Can a cover be made over the top of the door so it can be opened without
the rain coming in or be able to take rain gear off before going in?

Our porch is a 5 1/2'x5 1/2' arched square. Porches can be attached in minutes
to any of our domes. With a porch you can keep your door open in a warm rain.
It gives you space to take off your raincoat or boots before going in. Wet gear
can be hung underneath it. The porch covering is made out of our translucent
greenhouse woven ripstop film for maximum light transmission. If you wish,
you can special order the porch in white for less light or in white-with-black
for a shade porch.

Do you think it's possible to live year-round in Maine in
a dome with a liner and heat?

With a full liner and a stove, the dome would be comfortable in
sub-zero temperatures. A liner reduces heat loss from radiation,
conduction and convection, and creates an insulating dead air
space of 2"-3". It also prevents condensation which
may occur in very cold situations. The full liner is constructed
of a white fire-retardant ripstop film with clear vinyl windows
for a wonderfully bright and warm space. (We also make liners
out of the translucent greenhouse covering for our greenhouses.)
To install, you tie it in place at each intersection point on
the dome, pulling it tight. Installation is simple and takes about
one hour. You can order a liner with your dome and install it
right away, or decide to add one later. If you plan on spending
a winter in your dome, a liner will produce a more evenly heated
space and you will use less fuel. We make liners for our 11',
14', 18', 20', and 30' domes.

In addition to a liner, you would have to have a stove and
melt the snow off. In heavy snow your dome could collapse, damaging
the contents, or compromising your shelter, or even putting your
life or safety at risk. Do not rely on your dome as your only
shelter where it snows. A backup emergency shelter might be a
shed, trailer, a nearby neighbor's house, or a snow cave.

A log cabin might be simpler.

Would a parachute function as a suitable liner?

No. A parachute would not fit tight inside the dome or create
the nessacary dead air space.

When would I need a sunshade? Would the sun shade greatly
extend the life of a solar dome in the strong southern Arizona
sunlight?

If you are unable to put your dome under a tree or if you need
shade only part of the time, consider one or more of our 6' x
12' SunShades, which you can attach to the outside of your dome
with Grip Clips tarp fasteners where
you need it. You would need two SunShades to completely shade
the SolarDome 14 and three to completely shade the SolarDomes
18 and 20. You can also buy 90% shade cloth from the hardware
or building supply store.

Our SunShade is mostly to keep the yurt dome cooler; it would
extend the life of that part of the dome that it covered.

Your HalfDome is no stronger than its anchors, so anchor it
securely. We suggest three methods for attaching the HalfDome
to a wall or fence.

The simplest method is to tie the cords, which are attached
to the Grip Clips, to the appropriate fastener (ie, cement bolts,
screw eyes) which you have fastened to your wall. The second method
is more water- , wind-, and heat-loss resistant: Hold the HalfDome's
3" skirting against the wall , place 1/4" slats on top
of the skirting, and attach the skirting+slat to the wall with
the appropriate fastener . The third and most secure method is
to attach the HalfDome with both the cords and the skirting.

"Anchoring: Wind"

Do you know what wind speeds the Crystal
Cave is capable of withstanding without failing?

This is a difficult question to answer because the wind in a given
storm also contains gusts, so a storm might have 30 mph winds
with gusts up to 70 mph. All our structures are drum tight and
will handle strong wind. Although we have not conducted wind tunnel
tests, several customers have reported our domes handling winds
of 30 and 40 mph with no problems. However, we do not recommend
them for regions or exposed sites known for unusually extreme
wind, such as hurricane-force wind.

A critical factor in withstanding strong winds is anchoring.
Your dome will blow away if it is not anchored properly. Study
the anchoring and guying instructions
carefully and apply all appropriate means to secure your dome
to the earth. Rain will soften the ground and greatly reduce the
holding power of the stakes. We provide good general purpose stakes,
but they cannot cover all ground conditions. Wind will at times
come up unexpectedly. Be prepared!

The dome is a lightweight, portable structure. Its strength
comes from tension, not from mass or rigid components.

Note: Because of its continuous curved shape, the SolarDome
sheds the wind better than the Crystal Cave.

"Climate: Light"

Can these structures be ordered with a few windows put in?

The 14, 18, and 20 domes are standard with 4 clear vinyl
windows above the doors. There are no other panels suitably small
enough to allow us to install any additional windows. It would
compromise the strength of the structure if we substituted vinyl
for the much stronger woven film
in the larger panels.

The panel size in the 8 and 11 is too large to permit any windows
in them.

We can install up to 8 windows in the 30'er; you decide how
many you'd like.

"Climate: Heat I"

Having wind flowing through the structure is a necessity,
otherwise we will end up in an oven. Can we raise one of the sides
of the Crystal Cave up from
the ground to get airflow from one side as well as through the
doors?

Yes. You would need to prop the side up with secure poles.
You can also improve the ventilation by inserting a lightweight
object (such as an empty soda can) or a ventilation tube (two
are provided with each dome) between the overlapping
panels. In addition, you can cover part of the cave with a
sun shade to help stop heat from
re-radiating into the CC's interior.

"Climate: Heat II"

Do you sell portable, heavy-duty, heat-reflective canopy
system kits?

Shelter Systems' structures can made for use as ShadeStructures.
Simply request that we use our white
and black shade material. You should consider letting some
of the covering be white to let in light. To increase ventilation,
consider using the domes in the Arch
Form or one of CrystalCaves
with both ends open. Even our porch
can be made using the shade material.

If you need shade only part of the time, consider one or more
of our 6' x 12' SunShades, which
you can attach to the outside of your dome with Grip
Clips tarp fasteners where you need it. You would need two
SunShades to completely shade the SolarDome 14 and three to completely
shade the SolarDomes 18 and 20. You can also buy 90% shade cloth
from the hardware or building supply store.

"Climate: Snow I"

Will the domes take much snow? I have a business in the
mountains. How do the 30-footers hold up to snow loads?

Remember that the dome is a lightweight structure. Its strength
comes from tension, not mass or rigid components. It is apparent
that you could not climb on top of the dome, nor can you expect
it to support heavy snow loads.

Accumulated snow must be melted or shaken off periodically.
During snowfalls you must keep a heat source going inside the
dome to keep the snow melting off the top or periodically sweep
the snow off or shake the dome, so there is never too much snow
on top. If a large quantity of snow falls in a short amount of
time, an unattended dome will collapse. People in these conditions
have had two or three poles break; these are inexpensive to repair
or replace.

"Climate: Snow II"

We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some way to cover
the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can continue to use them in
inclement weather. We do live in an area that gets a substantial amount of snow
in the winter.

You would have to remove the snow (melting it off as it accumulates
is the easiest but this means you would have to heat it).

"Climate: Cold I"

Can they be heated? If so, what is best method?

Yes. You can use all types of heaters: electric, propane gas,
natural gas, kerosene, or wood.

The electric heater is inexpensive to buy, easy to install,
clean burning, and uses expensive electricity.

Propane heater is relatively inexpensive and uses portable,
bottled gas. A natural gas heater is nearly identical. A kerosene
heater burns liquid kerosene with an odor which is objectional
to some people. Propane, natural gas, and kerosene heaters are
made in unvented or vented styles.The latter allows the combustion
products (primarily, water vapor and carbon dioxide--not deadly
carbon monoxide) to exit the dome through a small diameter pipe.
In the unvented style, those gases are released into the dome,
which is not a health problem. Additionally, much of water vapor
is driven out by water pressure between the overlapping
panels. In especially rainy regions, it might be better to
have a vented heater because all the water vapor created would
exit.

A wood stove must be vented because one of wood's combustion
products is carbon monoxide.

All heaters must sit on fireproof mat and must be 24" away from dome's covering or poles and from any combustibles.
If you have a vented heater, you must install the vent pipe by
rolling up a door, installing a plywood sheet with insulated pipe
fittings, etc. (See the Instruction
Manual for details.)

Do you provide fire-retardant material specific for stove
cutouts?

No. You can buy standard fire-resistant stove pipe fittings
at a hardware store.

"Climate: Cold II"

Is it possible to insulate one of your domes, and what would
you recommend?
We make a full liner which creates
an insulating dead-air space. You can also insert rigid foam insulation
between the liner and the dome.

"Climate: Cold III"

Is it possible to install a wood-burning stove in the middle
of the shelter? Can it be sewn into the very top of the dome without
compromising the strength of the shell?

Yes, you can cut a hole near the top and you can sew to the covering;
you should not cut any closer to a pole than 1' (to protect the
dome from the heat and to maintain its structural strength) and
the pipe should be cool enough not to melt the pole or covering.
You would have to install this yourself.

What is the maximum height that the chimney can safely go
through the door? What is the height of the door?

About 5', but you should not have the pipe so close to the pole
as to melt it.

"Climate: Cold IV"

Will condensation form on the fabric used in your shelters?

Condensation will form on any surface that is colder than the
air that contacts it if the air has a lot of moisture in it. There
are four advantages that our shelters have concerning condensation.
One, the volume is large; this dilutes the moisture in the air,
reducing condensation. Two, the shingling used in the dome allows them to breath. Three, with the dome heated,
condensation occurs only far down on the walls, if at all, thus
making it difficult to contact this condensation. Four, any condensation
that does occur runs down the lower wall onto the ground outside,
not onto the floor. The floor is not sewn to the wall. Instead,
where the floor meets the wall, the floor continues up the wall
about another 6" and is clipped to and tied up against it.
To further keep water out of the dome, there is about a 6" skirt at the bottom of the wall which directs rain and water away
from the dome.

"Climate: Cold V"

Yes. This does not mean the poles will not crack. If you jump
on them, hit them against a rock, they will crack-- even at room
temperature.

"Climate: Rain I"

Do these shelters need a rain fly? How do they perform in
a downpour?

They do not need a rain fly because of the shingling. Shingling is accomplished by layering the tarp panels over each other as
you would shingle a roof of a house and then "clip" them together. This creates a totally waterproof covering. The
points where the Grip Clips are
attached also serve as anchoring points for poles and stakes.
This is we do here at Shelter Systems. Each panel overlaps the
other by 3" making total overlap of 6". All seams are
under tension by the poles. This keeps the "seams" closed
yet allows the structure to breath. They perform excellently in
a downpour. People have lived--dryly--for years in our domes in
Washington State's rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula .

"Climate: Rain II"

Which is more waterproof: The Lighthouse
yurt or Solardome? And which is
more mildew resistant?

They are both equal in degree of being waterproof and mildew
resistant.

"Climate: Wind I"

Do you know what wind speeds your dome is capable of withstanding
without failing?

This is a difficult question to answer because the wind in a given
storm also contains gusts, so a storm might have 30 mph winds
with gusts up to 70 mph. All our structures are drum tight and
will handle strong wind. Although we have not conducted wind tunnel
tests, several customers have reported our domes handling winds
of 30 and 40 mph with no problems. However, we do not recommend
them for regions or exposed sites known for unusually extreme
wind, such as hurricane-force wind.

A critical factor in withstanding strong winds is anchoring.
Your dome will blow away if it is not anchored properly. There
are 12 stake points and four guylines. Study the anchoring instructions
carefully and apply all appropriate means to secure your dome
to the earth. Rain will soften the ground and greatly reduce the
holding power of the stakes. We provide 16- 12" good general
purpose stakes, but they cannot cover all ground conditions. Wind
will at times come up unexpectedly. Be prepared! See our Instruction
Manual for details.

In additional to anchoring, there are more steps you can take
to protect your dome from strong winds: site the dome on the leeward
side of any bushes and trees, install snow fencing, or build a
regular wooden fence or one made of straw bales.

The dome is a lightweight, portable structure. Its strength
comes from tension, not from mass or rigid components.

Note: Because of its continuous curved shape, the dome sheds
the wind better than the Crystal Cave.

"Climate: Wind II"

Do the Grip Clips on your dome stand up to high desert winds
and rain or do they break under constant high wind?

They do very well. The clips will not break.We know people
who have taken our domes to Burning Man, in Nevada, for years
with no problems.

"Climate: Wind III"

We'll be at Burning Man this summer. We're getting word
that the winds this year have been truly epic -- the last storm
had a gust that registered 100 mph! Any suggestions about what
to do if a big wind storm comes up?

The best thing to do would be to "drop" the dome.
If you should get a storm with extreme winds, consider removing
the lower 12 poles, leaving the dome anchored. Then run strings
back and forth across the dome, going from stake to stake to keep
the wind from lifting up on the covering. If the dome still appears
to be buffeted excessively by the wind, remove the remaining poles
and lash the covering to the ground again by running strings back
and forth from the anchors. When the storm passes, put the dome
back up.

"Climate: Cloudy weather"

Will the dome capture and store solar energy even on cloudy
days?

Yes. Of course, not as much as on sunny days.

"General"

TENTS are one of the products you sell but you have NO information
in your website about tents - where is the info about tents?

All of our domes and yurts are tents. You can find more information
about tents at our Grip Clip Tarp
Tent web site.

"General" Burning Man, Included Parts

What parts are included with your tents?"

I need this tent for camping at Burning Man. What does the tent come with?
What else will I need?

Our tents come complete with poles, stakes, guylines, ventilation
tubes, spare parts and a Shelter Systems' Instruction
Manual that details floors, site selection, anchoring, cooling,
winterizing, and stove installation--everything you'll need, except
a floor. You can use a large tarp or we make you a floor that is cut to fit with clips to tie it in. (For more info on
floors, see the "Parts & Components: Floors" question.)

"General: SolarDome vs. Survival tent"

There is no difference. Our SolarDome is a strong, versatile
tent which has many possible uses.

"General: Setting the dome on a wooden platform"

I intend to put my SolarDome 14 on a wooden platform. How
large does it need to be, at a minimum? How do I attach the dome
to such a platform?

The platform should be 14' in diameter. It is best to put the
dome up first and then cut the deck to fit so that water will
not enter the dome. Use "eye" bolts to attach the dome
to the platform. You can get these at a hardware store. See our
online instruction manual
for details.

"General: Plumbing"

Have you had any experience or ideas about plumbing?

Plumbing deals with two matters: water and sewage. Water is
used for drinking, washing dishes and clothes, and bathing.

Disclaimer: the following information and ideas are provided
in an attempt to be helpful to users of our domes, but we do not
intend nor imply that you must or should implement any of these
ideas. In addition, depending on where your dome is located, some
of these ideas may be prohibited by local ordinances.

GETTING THE WATER:
1) Carry water in jugs to your dome.

2) Connect a hose to a neighbor's water line for pay. The water
pipe carrying the water from your neighbor's must be made of a
material which won't contaminate drinking water. Check with a
plumbing or hardware store. Also, if there will be constant water
pressure in the hose, check which fittings can handle the pressure.
Storage containers come in various capacities. The large ones
are available at plumbing supplies stores.

3) Collect rain water:
In a tarp--using Grip Clips tarp fasteners
to suspend 4 corners of the tarp--one corner a bit lower and over
a barrel.
Off the dome--by attaching and hanging a gutter, made from a long,
10"-wide strip or strips of plastic tarp, to the bottom of
the overlapping 6" skirt that hangs down and ends right below
the horizontal pole. (Look at the first photo of the SolarDome
page to understand more clearly where this is.) Fold the strip
of tarp so it's still the same length but only half as wide. Hold
the 2 open edges of the gutter on either side of the bottom of
the skirt and fasten the 3 layers (gutter-skirt-gutter) together
with safety pins, placing pins about every 2'. (Safety pin holes
in the skirt of an overlapping panel
will not affect the watertightness of the dome.) Let one end
of the gutter hang down and drain into a barrel.

You may want to filter the water for leaves, dirt, and insect
particles, using a sand filter or straining it through a clean
cloth. Depending upon the water's purity, you may need to purify
water to be used for drinking and washing dishes: 1) Boil it for
5 minutes. 2) Use chlorine tablets. 3) Use 2% USP iodine solution:
2 drops per quart if clear and 10 drops per quart if cloudy. Wait
30 minutes. 4) Use "household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium
hypochlorite solution). Do NOT use solutions in which there are
active ingredients other than hypochlorite. Use the following
proportions: Clear Water: 2 drops for one quart; 8 drops for one
gallon ; 1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons. Cloudy Water: 4 drops for
one quart; 16 drops for one gallon; 1 teaspoon for 5 gallons.
Mix water and hypochlorite thoroughly by stirring or shaking in
a container. Let stand for 30 minutes. A slight chlorine odor
should be detectable. If not, repeat the dosage and let stand
for an additional 15 minutes." (1999 Pacific Bell Directory.
For Palo Alto, Redwood City & Menlo Park. page B6). Contact
a city or county agency to find out where to have your water tested.

4) Collect water from streams, creeks, ponds, lakes or springs. If a spring is uphill from the dome, pipe
it directly to your dome or collect it in containers. Depending
upon the water's purity, you may need to purify water to be used
for drinking and washing dishes.

5) Collect snow and melt it slowly indoors or over a fire.
To protect your pot, put some water in the pot before you put
the snow-filled pot over the fire. Depending upon your water's
purity, you may need to purify water to be used for drinking and
washing dishes.

6) Drill a well.
Note: I have used all these methods, except for drilling a well.

USING THE WATER:
Heating water:
1) Heat it on a stove in a pot.
2) Heat it in a solar water heater (such as hanging 3-gallon bag).
Check solar energy companies' websites.
3) Use a wood-fueled water heater, marketed online through solar
energy companies.
4) Use a propane-fueled water heater.
5) Use a water heater which attaches to a wood-burning stove,
marketed online through solar energy companies.

Washing dishes:
1) Use a pot or bowl and then toss the used wash water. Soapy
water doesn't hurt plants or animals. However, it will harm life
in streams; soap is a nutrient for algae which will "bloom" and can eventually crowd out and kill fish.
2) Buy a sink with a drain, from a building supply or hardware
store. Build a wooden box to hold the sink at desired height and
after washing, direct the used water where you want it with a
hose, flexible black plumbing pipe, or PVC.

Rigging up a shower:
You'll need some water pressure. You can achieve this by either
using a hanging solar bag or positioning a water storage tank
uphill from shower, with a water heater in-between. Build an enclosure
for privacy. You can let the water drain away.

Washing clothes:
1) Use a large container or a sink, as for dishwashing. Buy a
wash board at a hardware store. Dry clothes on a clothes line
or inside dome in wet weather.
2) Use a neighbor's wash facilities for pay.
3) Go to a laundromat.
4) Buy a stainless steel, hand-powered washing machine. Wringer
attachments are available.
5) Buy an efficient electric washing machine which can be powered
with solar energy, marketed online through solar energy companies.

Outhouse function:
1) Use a neighbor's facilities for pay.
2) Dig a one-use-only pit privy. Dig a 6"-deep hole with
a shovel, use it, and then fill it with dirt. Each time. For rural
use only.
3) Dig a hole, which is 3' in diameter and 3-5' deep, and cover
it with a piece of plywood with 12"-diameter hole cut in
it. Make a cover for the hole. Keep toilet paper stored nearby
under a can. For privacy, build a fence or enclosure, with or
without a roof. After using it, put a shovelful of dirt or lime
in to minimize odor. When full, cover with about 1' of dirt.
4) Buy a chemical toilet (used in airplanes, RVs and houseboats),
which allows you to have an inside toilet. When the container
is full, you have to take the container somewhere to be emptied.
Purchase from RV supply or boating stores.

FREEZING CONDITIONS:
Be sure to take the necessary precautions to prevent the freezing
and/or bursting of your plumbing. These could be insulting your
plumbing, heating it, or burying it below the permafrost.

You may want to purchase a SolarDome 8' to cover your outhouse.

"General: 18' Yurt Dome"

I'm interested in your 18' Yurt Dome. I plan to use it to live in from late
May until October this year. I will be in central Utah. Some considerations:
may not be able to set up under a shady tree, will have to move periodically,
have several dogs, may be hot at times if I'm not up in the mountains (Manti-LaSal
National Forest), one person living in it.

Would the Yurt Dome suit my needs? What accessories would you recommend?
How large is the yurt when packed?

I think the Yurt Dome would suit your needs well in central Utah.

If you are unable to set the dome under a tree, you may want
to consider our shade cloth (SunShade).
The dome goes up in 30 minutes and down in 5, so moving periodically
is no problem. Having several dogs in the dome should be no problem.
Tents can get hot. However, there are four doors for ventilation.

The 18' Yurt Dome, when packed, is the size of two large duffel bags, each
weighing 30 pounds.

"General: Can domes be linked ?"

To what extent can shelters be linked together? For example, can a 20 or
30 foot Yurt Dome be joined to a smaller diameter dome or to a Crystal
Cave?

The domes can be linked door to door by installing a U-shaped "wraparound" made of the woven ripstop fabric to enclose,
join, and seal the two touching doorways. On the inside of each
doorway are 4 Grip Clips, 2 at the top corners and 2 at the bottom,
for a total of 8 inside both doorways. You hang the U-shaped enclosure
from these 8 Grip Clips.

To join two doorways having the same dimensions:
Make the "wraparound" by cutting some 24"-wide
fabric the length of the two sides plus the top of a doorway plus
an additional 4'--this extra is for attaching 8 additional Grip
Clips and forming 2 gutters to drain any rain away from the joined
doorway. (See Accessories to buy
the additional fabric and Grip Clips needed for this.) Determine
the midpoint of the strip you've cut and mark it--the midpoint
will enclose the center of the top of the doorway. Hold the center
of the strip up to the center of the doorway and mark on the strip
where the 4 Grip Clips at the top corners of the 2 doorways touch
the strip. Attach 4 Grip Clips to the strip at these 4 places
and enclose the 2 doorways with the "wraparound" and
using the cord supplied with the additional Grip Clips, fasten
the 4 Grip Clips on the "wraparound" to the 2 Grip Clips
at the top of each side of the doorway. Lastly, attach 4 Grip
Clips near the ends of the strip so you can fasten them to the
4 Grip Clips at the bottom corners of the doorway.

To join two doorways having different dimensions:
Cut the "wraparound" 6' wide to allow yourself plenty
of material to work with. Cut away the excess when you've finished.
Proceed as above.

This enclosure is watertight. Any rain collects in the "wraparound," which acts like a gutter, and drains onto the ground, not into
the doorway or your dome.

Both doors, which we install at the top of each doorway, will
be enclosed in the "wraparound." If you still want to
have a door covering between the attached domes, you can hang
some material or a blanket in the doorway when desired.

The Crystal Caves are more difficult to link since their openings
are so large, but a smaller door could be cut in their ends and
then joined as above.

"General: Stoves"

Can you put a gas stove for cooking in a yurt?

Yes, you could hook up to a natural gas line or use bottled
propane gas.

Do you provide fire-retardant, heat-resistant material specific
for stove cutouts?

No. We suggest you roll up one of your 4 doors and shingle
in a section of plywood slightly larger than the door opening.
Then use standard fire-resistant stove pipe fittings.

"General: Cutting additional openings in the dome"

If Icut windows for my telescope, how would this
affect the strengthof the structure? If I install additional
windows, will the dome be more difficult to assemble?

Yes, you can cut an additional window for your telescope. You
should cut between the poles on the dome's covering and not directly
under them. If you do cut near a pole, I would leave at least
a 1'-wide strip of fabric under the pole. It is true that the
dome will be slightly weaker by cutting the covering. Understand
that the more openings you cut and the larger they are, the weaker
the structure will become. It should only be slightly more difficult
to assemble.

It is possible to install a wood-burning stove in the middle
of the dome by cutting a hole near the top. In this case, you
leave a 2'-wide strip of fabric under the pole, to protect it
from the heat.

"Greenhouses": CrystalCave 11 vs. GroDome
14"

Are the frames' poles the same diameter? The CC 11 uses 1" and the GD 14 uses 3/4". Both
frames are constructed of strong, long lasting, resilient, UV-stabilized,
Class 200 PVC tubing.

Is the covering the same material and thickness?

Yes. The strong, woven, laminated ripstop
film used in all our structures has been treated with ultraviolet
inhibitors to insure extra long life. The translucent covering
used in this greenhouse transmits 90% of visible light. (Most
plants require at least 65% for optimum growth). The sunlight
is diffused so your plants will never get burned the way they
can under glass or clear vinyl.

Which do you recommend as a better and sturdier greenhouse
design?

The GD 14 is stronger; it sheds the wind better because the
poles wrap in all directions. Personally, I like the dome's shape
better also.

"Greenhouses: GroDome 8 vs. GroDome 11"

I'm interested in a greenhouse. I like the GroDome 11 better
than the GroDome 8, but I'm concerned it might not be high enough.
I am confused by the measurements. I do not want anything too
big but I want to be able to stand with enough head room.

"Greenhouses: GroDomes"

I am considering purchasing one of your GroDomes. Could
tell me the size of the one that appears in the photo on the GroDome information page on your website?
It's the photo with the woman standing in front of the dome wearing
kneepads. This will help me determine what size I need. Thanks!

I recently purchased a Gro-row 7. I am impressed with the
quality and ease of assembly. I wish that there were flaps which
could be used to close the openings.

Flaps do make it warmer inside but can cause overheating if
not watched quite closely. The smaller the space, the closer and
the quicker the heat accumulates next to the plants. It is safer
to have the ends open then to cook your plants--which I have done.

"Greenhouses: winter use"

I am looking in the direction of a greenhouse of sorts for winter gardening
in upstate New York--cold wind, sleet, snow, etc.

The most practical use of a greenhouse is to extend the growing seasons
in the spring and fall. Although it is certainly possible to use a greenhouse
in upstate New York, it would be expensive because you would have to heat and
light it sufficiently to enable your plants to grow. (Installing a translucent
liner in your greenhouse would reduce your fuel
costs.) In addition, you must melt or sweep the snow off the greenhouse, because
it's a lightweight structure. Otherwise, the greenhouse could collapse. The
domes will handle strong, but not extreme, winds.

An alternative to having a full-height greenhouse is to dig
a hole or trench below the permafrost level and set a GroRow
or a RoofShell on the perimeter
of the hole. The hole or trench must be big enough to let sufficient
light in. You could grow winter crops, such as cabbage, lettuce,
greens, peas, in this way.

"Greenhouses: translucent greenhouse film"

Will your translucent film provide the same amount of light
to plants in a greenhouse as clear poly film?

Yes. Our light-diffusing (and therefore non-burning) translucent
film lets 90% of the available light through, which is more than
glass lets through.

Can I expect similar plant growth in my greenhouse using
your film?

Yes. It is designed for greenhouse use.

"Greenhouses: Greenhouse frames"

Do you ever just sell the frames, for plants to grow on?

The frames as we make them for the domes will not stand without
the covering. But we would be willing to make a special frame
that would stand for you. Pricing would be 25% of the cost of
the dome.

"Greenhouses: Help for a beginning gardener"

This is the first time I have ever tried to handle a garden
and/or a greenhouse. I need help in starting seeds, how to organize
a vegie garden and so forth. Can you please help me?

"Miscellaneous: Oval Intention"

I have the opportunity to purchase a 15-year-old Oval
Intention made by North Face. If you have any comments re
this tent, I would love to hear them. It appears from the picture
that the tent may be difficult to erect.Do you know what
North Face's warranty policy is re this tent?

This is a beautiful, strong tent. Bob Gillis of Shelter Systems
designed this tent in 1976 and subsequently licensed The North
Face to produce it. Like all of Shelter Systems' designs, for
the weight of the materials used, this tent approaches the maximum
strength. This allows for a minimum amount of materials to be
used: economical, weight-saving, minimal use of the world's resources.

Can you tell me the dimensions of the Oval Intention by
The North Face? Height and floor dimensions?

I don't know the exact dimensions, but the NF does.

"Parts & Components: Fabric durability I"

How long will the dome fabric, or covering, last?

About 3 years of full sun. All our coverings incorporate UV sunscreen
inhibitors to help block damage from the sun and give the coverings
a longer useful life.

Shelter Systems' covering is made by taking a special plastic
copolymer and stretching it until it becomes stiff. At this point,
the material is at its maximum tensile (pull) strength. It is
then sliced into thin strips and woven into a fabric. This gives
it amazing tear resistance. The fabric is then laminated on both
sides with some sheets of the same stretch-strengthened material
and is thereby stabilized and super strengthened. You cannot tear
it. Our coverings come in three "colors:" Translucent, White, and Shade covering (Silver outside to reflect
light and the sun and Black inside to block light and sun).

"Parts & Components: Fabric durability II"

I will be using this shelter outside of Alamosa, Colorado
at an elevation of 7500 feet. That area gets 350 days of sunshine
per year, so the ultraviolet factor is a big one. How does this
fabric hold up under that type of elevation and sunshine? (I notice
that you've tested in Florida and Arizona.)

I am not certain how long the covering will last in your sun conditions.
My guess is approximately 2 years of full use. If you store the
dome when not needed, you will extend the covering's life. As
one goes up in elevation, the intensity of the sun increases.

"Parts & Components: Fabric durability III"

I am a little concerned that the stray cats in our neighborhood
will reek havoc on the material. Can it be cat proofed? Or should
it hold up well to the cats?

The material we use for the covering of our yurt domes and
greenhouses is very strong and should not be damaged by cats.

"Parts & Components: Fabric brittleness in cold"

Can these be used in cold weather, or does the fabric get
brittle? We are interested in having an emergency shelter available
at a reasonable cost. Your price is reasonable, but how about
durability in midwest climate?

The fabric that most of the
dome is constructed of does not get brittle in the cold. However,
the clear vinyl windows can become brittle in extreme cold. If
you plan to use the dome in extreme cold, we recommend that you
order it with translucent windows made of our woven ripstop greenhouse
film, rather than with clear vinyl windows. The translucent greenhouse
film lets through more light than glass, but images cannot be
seen clearly through it. It's like looking through wax paper.
Looking through the vinyl windows is like looking through glass.

"Parts & Components: Fabric width, length and price"

Is the white woven ripstop material that sells for $8.00/Yd available in
a 36' width by 50' length? If not, what width and length is available?

Our three fabrics (translucent, white, and
shade) are available in 6' width, in any length, for $8/yard. We can sew into
wider widths yourself on your home sewing machine. For under 20' in length,
shipping and handling are $10; for over 20', shipping costs increase.

"Parts & Components: Painting the fabric"

I noticed a camouflage tent designed
for military use and wondered if I could purchase one. Visibility
of a huge dome from the valley might cause an "impact to
the natural beauty" type complaint from the people living
on the grid below.

Sorry, we do not offer a dome in the camouflage covering. You
can paint our domes with spray paint, however. Test the paint
first, because paints vary a lot.

"Parts & Components: Sewing the covering"

I have two sky lights inside my home that I need to sew/create
a drape to block out the sun and heat. Would your black liner
be a material that I could sew on the back of designer fabric?
I would only need about 3-4 sq yards. Can I order in qualities
that small? Note that to make my liner drapes, I have to be able
to sew on a sewing machine.

Yes, our white and black shade covering would work. And it
will block 100% of the light. It's 6' wide. You can order any
length you need. You can sew our coverings on a home sewing machine.

"Parts & Components: fabric sun filtration"

I am a home gardener in north central KS. I am planning on building a wood
framed greenhouse (10' X 20'). I am pricing covering materials. Filtration is
my main concern.

Our translucent covering lets through 90% of the sunlight (more
than glass). Unlike glass, the translucent covering diffuses the
sunlight so that it won't burn the plants inside the greenhouse.
Our white covering lets through 60% of the sunlight.

"Parts & Components: translucent greenhouse fil

Will your translucent film provide the same amount of light
to plants in a greenhouse as clear poly film?

"Parts & Components: Fabric sun blocking"

"Parts & Components: Fabric samples"

I'm considering buying one of your solar domes. I'd like
to get fabric samples of the woven, ripstop film and the polyester
canvas.

We are sending you the samples you asked for.

"Parts & Components: Fabric replacement on dome"

If the shelter covering needs to be replaced, but the pole
frame is in good condition, how much does only the fabric cost?
Connectors only?

We sell replacement dome covers with Grip Clips and connectors
attached for 80% of the cost of the dome. We don't sell covers
by themselves because attaching the Grip Clips and connectors
is complicated.

"Parts & Components: Creating a big tarp with fabric and Grip
Clips"

I'm interested in using your coverings and Grip
Clip tarp fasteners on a construction site. My thoughts
are to use your clips with some poles and guy lines to hold in
position. Ideally it should by about 50 X 100'. Is this practical?

Our woven fabric, which is 6' wide, can be sewn into tarps,
but we recommend you buy one readymade. Or you can join
tarps together (or our fabric) with our Grip Clips to
create a larger size. The wind loading on a 50x100' tarp would
be high.

With poles, guylines and Grip Clip tarp fasteners you can create
good protection for a building under construction. Grip Clips
are versatile: you can create the size and shape of covering you
need for a particular job, then disassemble the covering, and
use it on the next job.

"Parts & Components: Making sails from our fabric"

I'm interested in purchasing some of the woven
ripstop fabric used for greenhouse coverings and tarps. The
intended purpose is to make sails for sailboats. I refurbish old
boats for teens and scout troops but sail fabrics have historically
been cost prohibitive for the program and do not hold up well
under the vigorous use (abuse) of these energetic sailors. In
what quantities would I have to purchase the clear woven poly
fabric, and in what standard widths does it come? Are sample swatches
available?

We don't have experience using our fabric for sails. However,
we believe the fabric has the right properties to make a good
sail: It's stable on the bias (it doesn't stretch) and has a stiffness
(a "stiff hand") which is ideal for sails (it won't
get baggy). It can be sewn. You could attach it to the mast by
sewing a sleeve or with Grip Clips tarp
fasteners. You could attach it to the boom with a Grip Clip.
It is 6' wide, available in any length, costing $10 a yard + shipping.
We can send you a sample.

"Parts & Components: Doors & dome security

How are the doors secured?
With hooks.

Any locking device?
No.

"Parts & Components: Net doors "

How is bug netting attached to doors?

If you ordered net doors with your original order, they are
already installed and function just like your fabric doors. If
you got them from us later, you can install them yourself.

To install a net door, you tie the upper two corners of the
net door to the two dome clips on the upper inside corners of
the doorframe. There are holes on the interior of the clips on
your dome for this purpose. Thread the string through one of these
holes on each of the 2 clips. Pull the string up as short as you
can get it and tie.

"Parts & Components: Floors I"

Do any of these domes have floors like some tents? I don't
mean a wood floor, but a fabric floor or bottom.

Our domes do not come with floors. However, some type of ground
cover is necessary to keep dampness from coming up into your space.
Either you can use your own tarp or we make you a floor
that is cut to fit your dome. Shelter Systems' floors are made
of a blue, tough, waterproof, fire-resistant, ripstop material.
If you decide to make your own floor, you can purchase Grip
Clip tarp fasteners from us for attaching the floor to the
dome. It is often not necessary to the attach the floor to the
wall because objects on the floor may be adequate to prevent the
floor from shifting around.

There is a good reason that our floors are not sewn in. We
have eliminated a critical area for leaks: seams at ground level.
To further keep water out of the dome, there is an approximate
6" skirt all around the bottom of the wall which directs
rain and water away from the dome.

Another reason not to sew the floor to the wall is any condensation
that might occur runs down the lower wall onto the ground outside,
not onto your floor. This is because at the place where the floor
meets the wall, the floor continues up the wall about another
6" and is then clipped to and tied up against it with our
Grip Clip tarp fasteners. (For more info on condensation, see
the condensation question in the "Climate: cold" section
above.)

Another benefit of a separate floor is that when your dome
is stored, the floor can be rolled up separately so it will not
dirty your walls.

Our Instruction Manual
provides information and suggestions on siting your dome for good
drainage, installing our floor in the dome, building decks, etc.

"Parts & Components: Floors II"

Most of us have lived our live in a house, so living on the
ground does not come intuitively to us. We think living on an
earthen floor would be wet, cold, and damp. However, if you choose
your site carefully and prepare the earthen floor properly, the
earthen floor will be drier, warmer and always much cheaper than
building a wooden deck. It requires time and effort to build a
deck and make it function properly, so that rainwater doesn't
flow into the dome, so it's attached properly to its foundation,
and so it's adequately insulated against cold. You need to have
carpenter skills, aptitude, ambition, and/or a good book on building
decks. Of course, a deck would be a better floor in some situations,
such as on a very steep slope or on boulders or volcanic rock
you can't easily move, or if you want to elevate the dome.

"Parts & Components: Dome frames"

Do you ever just sell the frames?

The frame as we make them for the dome will not stand without
the covering. It's nearly impossible to assemble. But we would
be willing to make a special frame that would stand for you. Pricing
would be 30% of the cost of the dome.

"Parts & Components: Poles"

Is it possible to use bamboo or wood poles instead of PVC
pipe?
Yes, if they are bent to the same degree as the dome is curved.
You can do this with green bamboo branches or pre-bent branches.

"Parts & Components: Poles"

Yes. This does not mean the poles will not crack. If you jump
on them, hit them against a rock, drive over them, they will crack--
even at room temperature. A broken pole is easy to replace. Or
to repair, by inserting a section of a branch between the two
pieces of the pole.

"Parts & Components: Privacy"

When you are inside the shelter at night and you have lights
on, can people on the outside see your silhouette? If so, what
do you recommend to prevent this?
Depends on the lighting. You could hang drapes inside or you could
order the dome with walls made of our white/black/white covering.
This is white on both the inside and outside with black in the
middle.

"Parts & Components: non-stooping entrance"

I am interested in the dome you display as a "Golf
in the Rain" HexPent dome. Your
web page says that it is not available at this time, but makes
a reference to your SolarDome 20. I looked at that, but can't
tell if it's about the same size.

I'd like a structure that people could walk in (to find some shade
or to get out of a light rain) without having to stoop much. The "Golf" dome looks perfect for that! Are you planning
on selling it in the future, or is it a "display only" or discontinued item?

We're not planning on marketing the HexPent dome in the near
future. Take a look at our 20' SolarDome,
which is the size of the HexPent dome. Transformed into the Arch Dome, it has a 7'5" high
opening.

Arch Dome

Full size 14', 18', or 20' domes can be transformed into Arch
Domes by you at no cost. Instructions that come with your dome
tell you how to turn your dome into a Arch Dome. It takes only
about 15 minutes and can be undone when you want your full dome
back. The Arch Dome is great on a hot day or in a hot climate
since the large arched opening provides for unsurpassed ventilation.
It is excellent for using your dome as a display show space at
a fair or other social occasion. The large opening is inviting
and friendly.

"Parts & Components: Dome weight"

I am very interested in using one of your Domes in the Islands
of the Pacific. I would need the lightest you have as we will
be traveling at times several miles inland on foot. We will be
using this Dome as a temporary meeting place for a group of 20
people. Then using it as sleeping quarters.

We would recommend the 20-foot SolarDome. It weighs 70 pounds
total, divided equally between two packages. The dome makes a
beautiful meeting place.

"Parts & Components: Grip Clips"

We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some
way to cover the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can
continue to use them in inclement weather. We do live in an area
that gets a substantial amount of snow in the winter.

You would have to remove the snow either manually or by melting
it off as it accumulates. The latter method is the easiest but
this means you would have to heat it. An alternative (and the
most sensible) method of covering the run would be to attach poles
or 2x4's to the fence on one side extending above the fence top
to create high anchor points and then attach a tarp or tarps with
Grip Clip tarp fasteners over the
entire run. You can also use Grip Clips to join
smaller tarps together.

"Purchasing: availability and shipping"

I would like to know if all the models are available and how long the delivery
time will be.

We keep the basic SolarDomes, LightHouses, and GroDomes in
stock. Orders are filled in the order in which they are received.
Orders are usually shipped via UPS within one week of receipt.
Delivery time is about 2 days within California, 4 days to Colorado,
and 6 days to the East Coast.

"Purchasing: commissions"

I am in the position to recommend your company to a group
of people starting a new community.

Since my funds are limited to purchase your tents...do you give
a commission (toward tent purchase) for those people I recommend
that purchase from you?We do not offer commissions, sorry, but do appreciate your
support.

"Purchasing: discount"

If I buy four or five of your shelters, is there a possibility
for a discount?

We don't offer such a discount.

"Purchasing: educational discounts"

Do you offer any educational discounts?

We do not offer educational discounts

"Purchasing: Rentals"

Do you ever do rentals of your products?

We don't rent any of our products.

"Purchasing: show room"

Do you have any structures on site? I'm in the Sacramento
area and can easily get to the San Francisco Bay Area. Would it
be possible to set up a scheduled visit to personally view your
product? It's harder than you might think to envision stuff on
the Web.

We don't have a show room which is a cost savings to all. We do
offer a 30 day money-back guarantee. Or if you'd like, we could
meet at my office in Menlo Park and talk in person.

"Purchasing: visiting our other customers"

Do you have any customers in the Seattle WA area so that
I can look at your product?

I cannot give out customers' names, sorry.

"Purchasing: Sales in foreign countries"

Do you have a supplier in Australia?

No, sorry. All sales are direct from us in California. We can
ship to you for about $200.

"Purchasing: Grip Clip dealers in Australia"

Where can I buy grip clips in Australia?
We do not have any dealers there yet. We can send them to direct you.

"Purchasing: replacement parts"

Can replacement parts, such as the covering and Grip Clips,
be ordered?

Yes, you can order replacement parts:
poles, hubs, connectors, 12" stakes, extra fabric, Grip Clips.
You can also order accessories: sticky-backed velcro to attach
almost anything to your dome, liners for both shelters and greenhouses,
net doors, porches.

"Purchasing: Replacing the covering"

Can replacement film be purchased for the gro-domes should
the original be damaged while the frame is still viable?

Yes; replacement covers are 80% of the cost for a new dome.

"Purchasing: customized, special orders"

I would like get a BubbleDome
20', half white, half clear with an entrance on each side. Any
problem?

Yes, we can make 1/2 white and 1/2 translucent (this is not clear
but like wax paper in the light it lets through). It does have
4 clear windows above the doors.

This would be a customized, special order and therefore not
returnable, since it would be difficult to resell.

"Sizes: What's your largest structure?"

I have a pool which, with 3 ft. walkway, is about 30ft.
X 50ft. I need a roof to keep leaves from the oak overhead from
falling in the water. Can you help?

Sorry, we can't help you at this time. The largest size dome we make is 30 feet in diameter.
The widest CrystalCave we can
make is 11' wide. We can make it in any length in increments of
5.5'.

"Sizes: How many people can sleep in a dome?"

I need a clearer idea of how large your domes are. How many
people can sleep in them? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

The 18'er can sleep 10. Check out our page which compares
the number of people it sleeps, square footage, relative volume,
footprint, etc. of our different sizes of shelters and greenhouses.
Another method of getting a clearer understanding of dome size
is to mark a circle on the ground the diameter of the tent you're
considering and see how many people and/or furniture can fit in
it.

"Sizes: GroDome 8 vs. GroDome 11"

I'm interested in a greenhouse. I like the GroDome 11 better
than the GroDome 8, but I'm concerned it might not be high enough.
I am confused by the measurements. I do not want anything too
big but I want to be able to stand with enough head room.

"Sizes: Mess tent for 15"

I run an adventure company specializing in mountain climbing
and trekking. We are looking for a sturdy, lightweight Mess Tent/
Porter shelter, big enough to sit 12 to 15 people with a table
in the middle.

"Sizes: 91"x61" spa cover"

I have a rectangular, 91" x 61" outdoor spa, that
is built like a small pool (concrete tile lip around the perimeter).
I need a cover. What options do you have for me for that size?

Any of our domes over 8' would cover your spa.

"Sizes: 2-person tent"

I am looking for an easy tent set-up that I can put in my
car and easily erect in friend's backyard, forest, etc, to sleep
in, no more than 2 persons. Is the 8' model the best choice?

I would recommend the SolarDome 14.
Easy to fit in your car but roomy and has 4 doors. The 14' has
4 doors and windows which allows good cross-ventilation. The 8'
and 11' have 1 door and no windows. They are more boxy than the
14' and therefore less aesthetic, in my opinion. The 8' works
well as a greenhouse and for storage. For camping, it will hold
one person comfortably. You can stand up in it.

"Sizes: 13 x 13 x 17 deck"

Hello, can you give me an idea for a cover for my deck that
measures 13 feet 5-inches x 13 feet x 17 feet? (I have a hot tub
on my deck and would like to protect it from the wind.)

You could fit our 14' SolarDome--it
can be deformed somewhat--on your deck.

"Sizes: LightHouse 14"

What is side wall height on 14' Lighthouse?

About 4.5'.

Will I be able to fit 4 cots, a 40"x40" table,
a 2'x5' table and a small wood stove inside a 14' Lighthouse with
room to still walk around?

Draw a circle on the ground and see if you can fit what you
need in it. I would think the 18'er would work better.

"Sizes: SolarDome 20 vs. HexPent dome"

I am interested in the dome you display as a "Golf
in the Rain" HexPent dome. Your
web page says that it is not available at this time, but makes
a reference to your SolarDome 20. I looked at that, but can't
tell if it's about the same size.

I'd like a structure that people could walk in (to find some shade
or to get out of a light rain) without having to stoop much. The "Golf" dome looks perfect for that! Are you planning
on selling it in the future?

We're not planning on marketing the HexPent dome in the near
future. Take a look at our Arch Dome
in a 20' SolarDome size, which is
the size of the HexPent dome. Transformed into the Arch Dome,
it has a 7'5" opening.

Arch Dome

Full size 14', 18', or 20' domes can be transformed into Arch
Domes by you at no cost. Instructions that come with your dome
tell you how to turn your dome into a Arch Dome. It takes only
about 15 minutes and can be undone when you want your full dome
back. The Arch Dome is great on a hot day or in a hot climate
since the large arched opening provides for unsurpassed ventilation.
It is excellent for using your dome as a display show space at
a fair or other social occasion. The large opening is inviting
and friendly.

"Sizes: Party tent"

We have a 20'x20' parking area where we have placed a 20'x20'
frame tent for parties. I am looking into purchasing a structure,
and your 18' RoofShell seems like a possibility. How tall is the
18' RoofShell? Can someone 6' tall walk under it without having
to bend over? Specifics as to dimensions are appreciated!

Our 18' RoofShell is 4' high in
the center and is meant to be used as a roof on poles set in the
ground or on another structure. You could use our 20' SolarDome
which is 10' tall in the center.

Do you have poles that will sit on a hard surface? If so,
how high are they? Our current system is square, and stakes just
off the 20x20 area support the tent.

No, we don't. One type of support you can make is to hold the
legs of the support with sand bags and guy out the RoofShell.

"Sizes: SolarDome 20 holds 25 people"

I need a tent with enough room to hold 25 people, all either
sitting in a circle or up dancing in a circle ...with good ventilation....for
day use and rainproof.

The SolarDome 20 will hold 25
people, sitting or dancing. Set it up in the Open
Arched Form with the other two doors open. The SolarDome
30 will hold 25 people dancing with abandon. Again, set it
up in the Open Arch.

"Sizes: Taking the dome on an airplane"

I plan to take a SolarDome 20 to Australia for traveling
about. How large is it, packed up? Would it be considered oversize
baggage on an airline?

The SD 20 comes in two packages, one 64"x12"12"
and the other 36"x18"x18". It would not be considered
oversize. You can check it as baggage.

Find the package size, package weight and door size of different
domes on our comparison page.

"Sizes: GroDomes"

I am considering purchasing one of your GroDomes. Could
tell me the size of the one that appears in the photo on the GroDome information page on your website?
It's the photo with the woman standing in front of the dome wearing
kneepads. This will help me determine what size I need. Thanks!

That is our 20' GroDome.

"Sizes: Earth 2 domes"

I am a big Earth 2 fan. What type of tents were used
in the production of that show?

They used our 18' and 20' SolarDomes.

"Sizes: 30' Yurt Dome I-seminar facility"

I am interested in purchasing a geodesic dome for use as
an "outdoor" seminar facility. I need a structure with
an area of 200 sq. meters. The structure will serve basically
as a shade tent: the material covering the unit needs to be highly
reflective.

"Uses: Car shelter"

"Uses: Construction"

I'm interested in using your coverings and grip clips on
a construction site. My thoughts are to use your clips with some
poles and guy lines to hold it in position. Ideally it should
by about 50 X 100'. Is this practical?

Our woven fabric, which is 6' wide, can be sewn into tarps,
but we recommend you buy one readymade. Or you can join
tarps together (or our fabric) with our Grip
Clip tarp fasteners to create a larger size. The wind loading
on a 50x100' tarp would be high.

With poles, guylines and Grip Clip tarp fasteners you can create
good protection for a building under construction. Grip Clips
are versatile: you can create the size and shape of covering you
need for a particular job, then disassemble the covering, and
use it on the next job.

"Uses: dog exercise run"

We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some
way to cover the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can
continue to use them in inclement weather. We get a substantial
amount of snow in the winter.

You would have to remove the snow either manually or by melting
it off as it accumulates. The latter method is the easiest but
this means you would have to heat it. An alternative (and the
most sensible) method of covering the run would be to attach poles
or 2x4's to the fence on one side extending above the fence top
to create high anchor points and then attach a tarp or tarps with
Grip Clip tarp fasteners over the
entire run. You can also use Grip Clips to join
smaller tarps together.

"Uses: Dog house"

I want to make a dog house dome. Maximum size: 5 1/2' in
diameter.

Look at our GroRow 10. Transformed
into the taller, wider size (4' tall, 5'6" wide, 5'6" long), it would work fine as a dog house. Use your own stakes
to anchor it or buy some stakes
from us.

"Uses: Emergency shelter"

Can these be used in cold weather, or does the fabric get
brittle? We are interested in having an emergency shelter available
at a reasonable cost. Your price is reasonable, but how about
durability in midwest climate?

The fabric that most of the
dome is constructed of does not get brittle in the cold. However,
the clear vinyl windows can become brittle in extreme cold. If
you plan to use the dome in extreme cold, we recommend that you
order it with translucent windows made of our woven ripstop greenhouse
film, rather than with clear vinyl windows. The translucent greenhouse
film lets through more light than glass, but images cannot be
seen clearly through it. It's like looking through wax paper.
Looking through the vinyl windows is like looking through glass.

"Uses: Fishpond cover

I have a 16' diameter fishpond. I have one very curious
Maine Coon Cat who is uninterested in this fishpond in the temperate
months, but once the vegetation around it dies back for the winter,
he desires to be in it! Our Maine Coon weighs 28 lbs, so whatever
covering is incorporated needs to be ripstop, at least! I think
if it has a decent height, he will move onto other things. We
also have large dogs, so whatever structure we anchor over the
fishpond must be tall enough to discourage them from walking onto
it too.

I need something that will encompass 20' in diameter with at least
a height of 4-5 feet. If you have something available asap, I
would appreciate knowing...my cat would like to go back outside!

Take a look at our 18-foot SpaTop, $425 + Shipping $35. You can
find this information on our web page, "Spa
and Jacuzzi Covers."

"Uses: Orchid shelf covering for cold weather"

I have a collection of orchids in my screen room in northern
Florida. I would like a suitable covering to put over my shelving
during the colder days. I have covered the plants with fabric
material to keep the wind from damaging them, but feel a solar
covering would be better.

Our translucent greenhouse fabric is a superstrong, woven,
translucent, greenhouse ripstop
film. It lets 90% of the light through--more than glass does.
It diffuses the light so the light won't burn the plants and was
designed for greenhouse and solar use. It is treated with ultraviolet
inhibitors, which protect it against sun exposure. The covering
will not rot or mildew.

"Uses: Party tent"

We have a 20'x20' parking area where we have placed a 20'x20'
frame tent for parties. I am looking into purchasing a structure,
and your 18' RoofShell seems like a possibility. How tall is the
18' RoofShell? Can someone 6' tall walk under it without having
to bend over? Specifics as to dimensions are appreciated!

Our 18' RoofShell is 4' high in
the center and is meant to be used as a roof on poles set in the
ground or on another structure. You could use our 20' SolarDome
which is 10' tall in the center.

Do you have poles that will sit on a hard surface? If so,
how high are they? Our current system is square, and stakes just
off the 20x20 area support the tent.

No, we don't. One type of support you can make is to hold the
legs of the support with sand bags and guy out the RoofShell.

"Uses: Pool cover"

I'm looking for a covering for my circular pool~25'--your
30 footer is nice but much taller than I need.

"Uses: Privacy screen"

I live in the city and have a rooftop garden. My problem
is I live near an "L" train and I'd like more privacy
from the passing passengers. I'm looking for a material that does
not block light but blocks vision and at the same time offers
some protection from wind. My idea is to stretch the material
in approximately 6' x 8' panels to form a fence.

I think our translucent greenhouse
covering would work for you. It's like looking through wax
paper. It lets through 90% of the available light but you can't
see images.

Shelter Systems greenhouse covering is made by taking a special
plastic copolymer and stretching it until it becomes stiff. At
this point, the material is at its maximum tensile (pull) strength.
It is then sliced into thin strips and woven into a fabric. This
gives it amazing tear resistance. The fabric is then laminated
on both sides with some sheets of the same stretch-strengthened
material and is thereby stabilized and super strengthened. You
cannot tear it. Shelter Systems coverings incorporate UV sun screen
inhibitors to help block damage from the sun and give the covering
a longer useful life.

It comes 6' wide, in any length, and costs $5 per yard. We
can sew or heat-seal wider widths for an additional $1 per yard
of sewing or $3 per yard of seaming. For an order under 20', add
$10 for shipping and handling. For over 20', shipping costs increase.

"Uses: Revival meeting tent"

The Christians in Jamaica are in need of a revival tent
that can hold 500-800 people.

Our 30' Yurt Dome would hold 100-150
people, seated. If you transformed it into an Arch
Dome, it would be open on one side and you extend the seating
back further.

"Uses: Sails"

I'm interested in the woven
ripstop fabric used for greenhouse coverings and tarps. The
intended purpose is to make sails for sailboats. I refurbish old
boats for scout troops but sail fabrics have historically been
cost prohibitive and do not hold up well under the vigorous use
(abuse) of these energetic sailors. In what quantities would I
have to purchase the clear woven poly fabric, and in what standard
widths does it come? Are sample swatches available?

We don't have experience using our fabric for sails. However, we believe the
fabric has the right properties to make a good sail: It's stable on the bias
(it doesn't stretch) and has a stiffness (a "stiff hand") which is
ideal for sails (it won't get baggy). It can be sewn. You could attach it to
the mast by sewing a sleeve or with Grip Clips tarp
fasteners. You could attach it to the boom with a Grip Clip. It is 6' wide,
available in any length, costing 85 a yard + shipping. We can send you a sample.

"Uses: Seminar facility"

I am interested in purchasing a geodesic dome for use as
an "outdoor" seminar facility. I need a structure with
an area of 200 sq. meters. The structure will serve basically
as a shade tent: the material covering the unit needs to be highly
reflective.

"Uses: Spa cover I"

I have a rectangular, 91" x 61" outdoor spa, that
is built like a small pool (concrete tile lip around the perimeter).
I need a cover. What options do you have for me for that size?

Any of our domes over 8' would cover your spa.

"Uses: Spa and deck cover II"

Hello, can you give me an idea for a cover for my deck that
measures 13 feet 5-inches x 13 feet x 17 feet? (I have a hot tub
on my deck and would like it to be protected from the wind.)

You could fit our 14' SolarDome
(it can be deformed somewhat) on your deck.

"Uses: Sweat lodge"

I am interested in using one of your domes to construct a "sweat lodge" that is portable and can be moved...it would need to be big enough to fit 12-15
people sitting in a circle. Would you use a different heat resistant covering?

I would think the 14' SolarDome
would be the best size. You would want to make a blanket liner
and hook in inside to hold in the heat and protect the dome from
the heat. You could use Grip
Clips to fasten enough blankets together to make the liner
or you could sew them. You would need about 33 Grip Clips to attach
the blanket liner to the inside of the dome.

"Use: Swimming pool house"

Could one of your domes be used to cover an in ground pool?
What temperature would be achieved without heat on a sunny day
with a temperature of about 40 degrees F?

Yes it could. My guess would be about 80 degrees. The GroDomes
are great collectors of solar heat. The translucent covering lets
in 90% of the available light, more than glass. How warm it gets
in the GroDome depends on the amount of sunlight, the clarity
of the air, and the amount of wind. In addition to collecting
solar heat, the dome shields the pool's surface from cooling winds
and also reduces evaporation from the pool, which would otherwise
cool the water. An additional benefit is you don't have to clean
your pool as much because the dome keeps leaves and dirt from
getting in. People with rectangular or square pools get GroDomes
and those with lap pools buy Crystal
Caves. We can custom-make you a
longer CrystalCave.

Would the dome be able to support snow?

No, you would have to keep the snow melted off. However, if
you are heating the water, most likely the air temperature above
the water will cause the snow melt to slide off. If that isn't
adequate to melt the snow, you could also heat the inside, but
only when it is snowing to keep your fuel bills as low as possible..

"Uses: Telescope shelter"

I live in the rain forest of British Columbia and am looking
for a shelter which will protect the telescope and me from the
elements. We have torrential downpours, even in the summer, and
quite high winds so have you a shelter that will anchor securely
and yet be able to turn on a track, as the only place that I can
set up the dome is on my deck. The ideal diameter at the base
would be 9ft and a height of 8ft in the middle. Hoping that you
can come up with some solution to my problem--my telescope is
an 8" Schmidt- Casgrain,fully computerized.

Look at our 10' StarBubble Dome.
If you were to build a secure turnable track, you could then attach
the dome to it.

"Uses: Long-term temporary shelter"

Which shelter would you best recommend for long-term temporary shelter for
a family of six?

For a family of six, a minimum of three 18' or 20' SolarDomes
would be a comfortable space: one for a common room and two for
bedrooms. The 18' is 254 square feet and the 20' is 314 square
feet.

"Uses: Toy display"

I'm looking for a small dome that I can set up inside shopping malls and
at State Fairs to demonstrate the unique flying ability of a new toy pet that
I am marketing. I want it to be clear (see-through) to attract the attention
of people outside it, but high enough to allow kids and adults to interact with
the pets, without risking UFO pet escapes.

"Uses: Big 'turtle'"

I am looking to simulate a big 'turtle" in a temporary dome structure.
Ideally put up in 6-8 hrs, or less. Could graphics be applied? Could it have
several doors for egress? 35-40 ft unit.

Look at our 30'er. Sets up in one
hr. with 2 persons. You can paint the dome. It has 8 doors.

"Uses: Wind barrier"

I am looking for a wind barrier for a back yard for sun
bathing. I want something with no roof, with sides only. Do you
have anything with one side or more that I can block the wind
with, and take down after use?

Our Wind Walls are tent structures
that block and stop the wind. The "Arch" Wind Wall Tents
are sections of our GroRows and Crystal Caves. You can put them
up in about 15 minutes. Stakes are provided for securing them
to the ground.

"Parts & Components"

Can you section the domes poles to make a smaller package.

We have produced an 18' Yurt Dome for a group of Yellowstone packers (photo attached) with sectioned poles so they could fit the poles into there pack horse packs. We sectioned the poles and added a "bell" to half of the sections so they could quickly be pushed together when they assembled the tent (see attached photos). They were pleased with the way it worked out for them. This will add some cost to manufacturing.

"Burning Man Festival"

I am interested in purchasing a large yurt dome for the 2001 Burning Man Festival. I was wondering if you had any occurrences of domes falling down due to the wind of the 2000 BM. I remember seeing a few of your domes, and as I remember, they fared very well in the 60+ mph wind that we experienced.

I did not hear of any of our domes failing at Burning Man last year. We were there for the wind and we plan on adding to our site a whole section on dealing with wind at burning man in a month or two. So stay tuned.

Also, I was wondering if you have a catalog that you can send to me. I was hoping to show it to other members of our group that are going so I can get some money out of them as well.

Our current catalog is compleatly web based at this point. I will send you an old catalog; note that it does not have all our products and you will have to rely on the web for current pricing.

We bought a $400 tent last year and staked it down with rebar, and had some of the poles break, as well as some of the anchor rings. As you can imagine, it was quite disappointing. We also had our shade structure go down on Thursday of the event, which was not quite a surprise, but the wind actually bent 2 of the metal poles that came with the shade.

"Comments""Greenhouses"

VERY impressive. I think I've found a great alternative to the run of the mill greenhouse structure!

"Climate"

Hi, we're interested in two separate shelters--one thirty foot and one twenty foot. Our questions: how comfortable would they be without liners in 20 degree weather (we're in Mendocino at 2,200 feet)?

Liners are nice and worth the price but you can keep warm with out them.

Is there a humidity difference? (one is by a creek and one is higher, on a dryer meadow).

No.

How does the liner work with windows and doors

The liners have the same windows and doors as your dome.

(esp. if you use insulation between)?

You would not add insolation were there are windows.

If we used a wood stove, how much gain in temperature would the liner give us?

I do not know what the exact degree of gain would be but I would guess at 1/3 to 1/2 increase.

How much light does the liner cut out?

The liners cut the light in about half. There is still a lot of light

Can you get a porch for the 30 ft?

Yes, it is the same porch.

I assume you can for the 20 foot.

Yes.

Since we're right here, can we pick up them up at your factory and save shipping and handling?

No; having people come to pick up slows production to much; but if you are very close by we can ship for 1/2 price.

Also, can we see one set up?(I gather you don't have a showroom, but I'm wondering if in fact you do have one set up.)

No.

How long does it take after one orders to receive it?

We have 20s and 30s in stock.Say about 4 to 5 days.

Climate"

I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR 20 FOOT. WILL THE COLD MAKE THE PVC .HOW WELL WILL IT TAKE SNOW

It will not hold much snow with out heat to melt it off. Extreme cold will stiffen the PVC poles some but the dome is till use able (do you plan to put it up and down a lot in the cold? If so I would order it with out the vinyl windows as they are stiff in the extreme cold.

"Comments"

It was a pleasure to hear from you some few weeks ago.
I promised to sent you some pictures and feed back about the tents,
I am sorry for the delay but do not worry because you must feel proud to
manufacture such
high quality product. The people who are really using the tents likes so
much. I have seem
the tents around the all country and all the people are very satisfied with
the tent's us

"Uses"

Can you please tell me the difference between your " Survival and Preparedness Yurt Dome Portable Shelters and Tents" and your other lines? - or is it (are they) really just one of your regular lines under an au courant name?! Looks good - I'm interested - under any name! Thanks. Ken

Mostly their are differt names for the same structure. Sometimes they different in what the covering is made out of.

"Miscellaneous"

Hi

I have a boat which is 42 feet long, 14 feet wide. When on the ground for
Winter Storage it is about 18 feet to the highest point from the ground.

I generally build a ridge pole running the length of the boat out of 2X4's
using 2X4's for legs about every 10 feet. This ridge pole is about 6 feet
off the deck and a tarp is draped over it covering the boat for the Winter.
Due to wind and snow loads the tarps generally last one or two seasons.

I am wondering if you make a structure that would enclose the boat either
from the ground or from the deck up and if the costs would be worthwhile in
the long run.

Thanks
Pete

Hi Pete

We do not make a structure the size you need but from you letter I can make some suggestions that may increase the life of your tarp substantially. First suspend the tarp under your 2x4 frame using our Heavy Duty Grip Clips. This will prevent the tarp from rubbing and wearing on the frame when it moves in the wind. It will also prevent heat build up where the tarp traps the sun's heat between the tarp and the 2x4s. This heat accelerates the rotting of the tarp at these points. Try to buy a tarp that is UV stabilized for a long sun life. Next make sure the tarp is pulled and kept tight using enough Grip Clips to pull it tight; check it out in high wind and tighten it if necessary. A lose tarp flaps in the wind and the flapping causes the tarp to degrade and fail. When your tarp does wear out the Grip Clips can be removed and appalled to a new tarp.

"Miscellaneous"

your more than welcome to add my name to your list. I've been researching
Aleut Kayaks and Inuit Style kayaks, and maybe i would like to use your 4 hr Kayak
method and then make one out of skin.....peace

> >dear sir:
> >thank you for the sharing such an ingenious and practical kayak, with
> >the total cost of 22 dollars and the little girl lifting it over her
> >head! it's amazing what one can accomplish with the basic tools and
> >resources in our environment. i had to laugh at myself, i spent 800
> >dollars on a second-hand kayak and it weighs 60 lbs(i dare not to
> >attempt to lift my kayak by myself, i need assistance to carry to the
> >water each time).,....your idea is very practical and economical....hats
> >off to you! p.s...you can guarantee I'll book mark your website.

"Miscellaneous" "Kayak"

Subject: Stick Kayak; Hi. My name is Andy, from Boy Scout Troop 67. Last week at summer camp, we had to build our own boat/canoe/kayak and race it. We jumped on the Internet and found your plans. We had the most impressive boat out there! (We placed first too!) I just wanted to thank you for putting this design out on the Internet! -ANDY

"Miscellaneous"

I am fascinated by your products... Did you design the "oval interntion" tent. Used to have one and was great. Hope your business is going well. L.C.

Yes.

"Miscellaneous"

I would like some details on the 4.5' high 14' across wind wall.
I want to use it on a Beach for sun in the winter and also a wind break. How
heavy is it

About 15 lbs.

and is the material clear for sun penetration.

We make Wind Walls of of the White Yurt Dome covering, the Translucent Greenhouse covering, or the White/Black sun block covering.

All Wind Walls are by special order only.

How is the
structure held up?

The top poles form a ring which is held up by the upright poles. Stakes are included and guy lines.

"Miscellaneous"

Can you use grip clips with tyvek to make a light weight tent? If so what
size of clip would you use?

Robinson

Because Tyvek is stiff and yet thin both the Light Fabric and the General Purpose will work. The GP will allow you to join more layers but is heavier than the LF. I would try to use the LF.

"General"

Hi,
Thanks for the information,
Do you have wood stove vents for any of your shelters?
Don

We do not supply stove vents but suggest that the user roll up a door (there are 4 and shingle in a section of plywood and then use regular stove pipe fittings.

"General"

Hi Bob
I have sent Japan your website and They have informed me that they are
interested in
air inflated tents. Now I have check the web site myself and I have not seen
any on the page.
Do you manufacture and Air Inflated Tents??

regards

shin

No. Air inflation is not reliable with out a reliable means of inflation. It is interesting Shelter Systems Geotensic Structures behave like inflatables in that they are resilient and can spring back if hit by an extreme load.

"Miscellaneous"

I noticed the black/white tent material you had on your web page and I was
looking for a 76"x42" strip of material that would block 100% of vis and UV
light for a dark room. Is this something you might be able to help with?

Thanks!
-Elliott

Although our black/white blocks 100% of light I am not sure if it would be suitable for dark room use. There may be an occasional pin hole. Perhaps you could block any pin hole leaks with back tape of a dab of paint..

"Uses"

Will this work?

What do mean will it work? If you mean will it hold the sign above the dome: I'm not sure. The sign looks big. How heavy is it. Wind on the sign may be a problem also. It would be best to find this out experimentally. I would make the sign as light as possible, attach it to the dome at pole intersections at the top of the small triangles (the dome is strongest at these points) and have flaps in in the sign to let strong wind blow through or make the sign of a mesh that allows the wind to flow through it. With a light wind porous sign it should work.

"Purchasing"

I was sent your site by a friend and am very interested in your
products. Do you have a distributor who is in Australia?

Diana

No.

Can we get
these here?

Yes we ship UPS Air out of country.

"Sizes"

What is the weight of the 20' diameter yurt?

Thanks

Tom

70 lbs divided into two 35 lb packages, one for the poles one for the covering.

"Comments"

Just wanted to let you know that we purchased two of your domes to use as dining tents on our treks in Bhutan. They were a HUGE hit with our clients and our local trek staff as well. The trekkers came to call the 20' dome the "Taj Mahal" and enjoyed luxuriating in the roomy interior. We did have one gusty day that lifted the dome off the ground (our staff hadn't tied the guy lines tightly enough) but other than that, they held up extremely well. If you are interested in any photos, we hope to have some up on our site in the next few weeks. Look at our site and go to the Bhutan section (go to Asia first, then to Bhutan). All the best! Brent Olson Geographic Expeditions

Dear Henderson

"Uses"

Has there been any comment on whether the 30 foot domes are attractive for weddings? What kind of wedding party would they best suit?

They have been used in weddings. I suggest that weather permitting that you have it set up in the Open Arch form (http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html ).

Can two 30 foot shelters zip together to form a larger auditorium and where most people are still able to see each other.

Two set up in the Open Arch form can be joined at the arches.

Also may the tent poles be purchased separately from the tent and fittings? I live in Auckland, New Zealand, 3000 miles east of Australia. Rather than freight them from the US it might be easier to get the poles here.

You can save 10% off the price of the dome and of course the cost of shipping the poles if you provide your own poles.

"Uses"

Hi -- I'm looking to have a sweat house ceremony in the next few weeks
and was wondering if you thought one of your yurts might be an option
for that kind of an endeavor and if so which one. Does the material
stand up to high internal temperatures (130-140 degrees F) and high
humidity?

Yes.

Does the structure stand on its own without the material if
we opted to use another material for the sweat lodge ceremony,

No.

"Greenhouses"

Hi
My name is Michelle and I am VERY interested in buying one of your
greenhouses. It is the best deal and quality I have seen since I began my
search for a greenhouse. My specifications are that I live in a rented
space therefore it can not be permanent and I think is zone 8 here in
Seattle. My deck is around 400 square feet and I am interested in using
1/2 or 1/4 of it for a greenhouse. I have many tropicals and frost tender
plants inside that I would like to grow in the greenhouse along with
spring germination of seeds. I guess my questions would be how low of
temperature does the greenhouse get at night,

It can approach the outside temp if there is no sun for days.

should I use an
alternative heat source,

Yes if you need to. The only way to tell is watch it or use a thermostat.

and how small is it to store in the summer when I
want all my plants outside???

Tie all pack up small. Two duffel bag size.

I am interested in the GroRow, GroDome and
lighthouse. I also rent a 200 square foot garden plot in another location
and the GroRow would work there also. What would be the benefients of
having the Grodome or lighthouse instead??

You can not grow in the lighthouse.

"Uses"

Hello,
I would like to build a 20 foot round straw bale house on some desert property that I have and have been thinking about a custom-domed roof for it.
I need ultraviolet , and water-proof protection for long-term use. Do you have these materials, and can you give me an estimate on price? I would also like to know if you have any ideas for attaching the roof to the straw bales.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Dale

Sounds like a great idea. Our 30' roof shell would work, being about 23' in diam. Our covering will last about 3+ years or much more if you shade it. You could attach it by running a cord from the clips (there are 20 base clips in the 30'er) down the bales and staking it to the ground or the bales.

Let me know if we can help.

"Comments"

This system is thrilling, my head swims with the possibilities thanks

"Miscellaneous"

Would you please send me a catalog.

We have had a small color catalog in the past but in order to produce a catalog that would have any where near what we show online it would be cost prohibitive, we therefore encourage you to rely on our web catalog. We also put our complete manual online for you to look at.: http://www.shelter-systems.com/lighthouse-manual.html

Dear Shelter Systems Folks,

I have a couple of questions about the 30 ft solar dome yurt. How many
doors does it have?

Eight.

is it possible to get more windows with net screening in
addition to net doors installed?

No.

"General"

I wish I was in a position to purchase one of your beautiful dome kits
however our budget wont allow that. We will be moving to the Philippines in
the future and plan on making a dome using bamboo.
We were wondering if possibly your firm might be able to provide us
with hubs or connectors that might be suitable for this type of application.
Thank you,

Ron
ps your website is really great!!!

The connectors with out the covering will not stand. You could buy the tent with connectors and then use bamboo poles.

"Greenhouses"

I'm very interested in your 14 ft. greenhouse. Can you tell me more about the
skin it's made of and how much light transmission it admits?

Over 90%. It lets through more than glass.

I'm concerned
about heating it on cold nights, too, since it's so high. What about
ventilation on hot days?

Since the panels of our domes are shingled, overhead ventilation is easily attained by inserting a lightweight object (eg, an empty plastic flower pot) between several panels (two "vent tubes" are included with each dome). When the can is removed, the panels snap shut and are watertight. For maximum ventilation the walls themselves can be rolled up, transforming the dome into an Opened-Arch Form.

Can one or more of the panels be rolled up when it's
hot? Thanks for any information. Can I get a catalog? Please rush. I need
to buy soon.

We do not offer a hard copy catalog at this time. Please look at our online catalog: http://www.shelter-systems.com If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

"Comments"

An informative and well costructed website.Appreciate the carefully presented information and pictures. Your questions and answer component is very helpful.As an emergency response planner and facilitator,I will share the details of your products with my colleagues.

"Uses"

Dear Shelter Systems, I am interested in purchasing, or having made, a tent. I plan to use it for a project I am working on, as a "Reading Tent." I am hoping to start a "Reading Road Show," I'd like a tent large enough to hold 25 or 30 kids.

Great idea. I would recommend the 20'er.

I wonder if it could be made with pockets inside, and then if it would be strong enough for those pockets to hold books.

This would be easy for you to do.

I would like it to have an awning over the entrance if possible.

Look at our porches.

I'd like it to be red and black in color and festive in design.

We have white and white/black, no red. You could paint some of it or cover some of it with red cloth. You could also attach flags to make it festive.

I also envision it to have a window, large enough to serve as a puppet theater on the inside, also with an awning or some type of shelter around it on the outside for the puppeteers.

Perhaps a 14' SolarDome with it set up in the open arched form.

"Burning Man"

I am trying to find out if your 30' Yurt Dome shelter could be adapted for use at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, NV.
Conditions at the festival are extremely hot and sunny, with no available shade, but also fairly windy. Even with the sun shade, would we be able to keep the dome shady in 120 degree blistering sunshine?

With enough sun shades; I would get at least 3.

I know that your website says an all-black dome would be too gloomy, but what about a completely checker boarded black and white dome?

That would be interesting.

Do you think that would provide some shade, but still have enough light to use the dome for other purposes?

Yes. I would still get a couple of sun shades.

We were planning on keeping two large doors open for cross-ventilation, and it is okay if the dome is the same temperature as outside, but shade is very important. Do you know if anyone has used this dome at Burning Man before?

We had sold three 30'ers for Burning Man last year.

"Greenhouses"

hello i am wanting to have a greenhouse nothing too fancy but kinda like what
you have to offer....i have one question though...what keeps the plants warm
at night ? do you have to put a heater in there ? i understand during the
day the sun hits the plastic and generates heat then but what about night ??
it still gets down to 40 here in southern indiana where i live....i
appreciate your ideas.
thank you,

Its called the greenhouse effect: the sun shins through the covering and heat up the ground and what ever else is inside it. Then at night the heat is slowly reradiated from the ground into the air of the greenhouse. This is what makes it work at night. You can increase the heat retention by adding jugs of water to your greenhouse.

"General"

I would like to know if any of your tensegrity-tents are any in production or are for sale?

send your reply to;

Most of our tents are a hybrid of tensegrity and geodesics. They are a type of tensegrity. The poles will not send with out the covering.

"Burning Man" & "Anchoring"

i read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burningman--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...

It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secqure the dome.

if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
i'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (i've seen that happen on home-made domes)????

A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.

Also, after Burningman, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???

I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.

"Burning Man" & "Anchoring"

BUT -- the reason I'm writing is that I saw at least two other of your
domes that looked to be the same size that were STILL INTACT at the end
of the event (and there's a rave on the BMAN web site about a 20' dome
which survived) ... which makes me think that we're doing something
wrong with staking or guying. (The failure seemed to occur primarily at
the point where the small bungies attached the female PVC pieces to the
structure.)

I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

One thing we noticed at Burning Man was the wearing out of base clip cords where people were staking their dome with re-bar. This happens because of the wind pushing and pulling on the dome, causing the cord to rub up and down on the ruff re-bar (like a saw blade) there by cutting through the cords. The way around this is to tie the base clip cords to the re-bar with sections of 3/8" or thicker cord. (The clip cords are only 1/8" and are designed for the plastic (not ruff) stakes we provide)

"General"

"General"

Our tents have done well in 30 mph winds. However winds can be considered moderate or strong but then gust in the extreme. Anchoring is important.

"Miscellaneous" "Kayak"

4 hr Kayak

To make a stronger boat you can cover the frame with heavy coated nylon or vinyl. You can also make the frame of thicker wood. Silicone rubber can be used to seal the gathering at the stern and bow by applying a generous amount between the layers before securing (this is not necessary unless you plan for the seam to be under water). This boat is intended for flat water use and not for use in white water. One reason for this is if the boat was crushed against a rock, the frame could collapse or brake pinning you in the boat and preventing you from swimming to safety and possibly drowning you.Wear a life jacket at all time.

"General"

Hi, I am very interested in purchasing one of your 14
ft. domes. I would like to know if I can order
everything except the pvc poles. I have some bamboo
that I would like to use. Please inform me if I can
order all except the poles.

Yes. For less 10%.

You should know that you will have to bend the bamboo so it should be 3/4" to 1" green or if you use seasoned bamboo it will have to 1/2" so it will bend and then you will want to put smaller diameter connectors on the dome (or have us do it for you) so that the 1/2" will fit the covering. Call if you this is not clear.

"Grip Clips;

Hello,
I think your grip clip product may be the kind of thing I'm looking for,
but I'd like to ask you a few questions about my specific application. I
am a graduate student in the School of Natural Resources at the University
of Vermont, working on a scientific research project in which I am
manipulating nutrient inputs to seedlings in pots, through fertilization
to the roots. (I'll study resultant physiological responses.) Because of
the nutrient treatments, I need to protect the seedlings from rainfall,
but they need to be exposed to more or less normal light and temperature
regimes. We have some steel cables suspended already, left over from a
previous project (imagine three top corner ridges of a long tent). I'd
like to suspend some heavy-duty clear plastic (like greenhouse film) below
the cables. It would normally hang to one side, so that it can be drawn
across (like pulling across a shower curtain-tent) so we can protect the
seedlings quickly when it starts to rain. I'd also attach the bottom
edges to low wires so that the sides wouldn't blow around in the wind.
I'm having a difficult time describing this without a picture, but
hopefully you have some idea of what I mean. Obviously I couldn't use
regular grommets, at least along the top ridge, because they'd leak badly.

So, my questions are:

1) Do you think your clips would perform well as the hangers to suspend
the plastic sheet below the wires?

Yes.

2) How sturdy are the little hangers to which the clips are attached? Are
they wire or plastic? I'm sure I'd have to use a different piece that
actually slides across the wire, but I'm wondering whether your clip
connectors/hangers would stand up to the tension this would create.

They should.

3) Do you think these connectors would stand up to the tension stresses
that would result from both wind and rain in this situation?

Yes; you would need to use enough of them to support your cover (how big is it?)

4) Do they perform well when they are *not* under tension (like when my
cover is pulled back for sunny days)?

Yes; once you put them on they stay on unless you take them off.

5) What size clip would you recommend?

Most likely the General Purpose; this depends on the spacings of your covering and what type of film you use.

6) If I ordered a lot (like 30 or 50) could I get a volume discount?

Yes

How
long would it take to get them?

A few days at the most.

"Comments"

An informative and well costructed website.Appreciate the carefully presented information and pictures. Your questions and answer component is very helpful.As an emergency response planner and facilitator,I will share the details of your products with my colleagues.

"General"

One side of the door can be left hooked closed all the time if you do not need the extra ventilation. This is particularly nice if you're using a door pole, since it allows the door to swing open and shut easily. In strong winds, hook both sides closed. Binder clips are provided with your dome to secure the doors in wind or when a tight seal is desired. They also work well on net doors. They hold best if you overlap the door and side wall materials a little as you clip them together. If you want more binder clips, you can get them at a stationery store. To prop your door open, tuck the tip of the door pole under an adjacent horizontal pole. Of course, if you aren't using a door pole, just roll the door panel up and tuck it over the pole above the door.

Burningman read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burning man--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...

It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.

if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (I've seen that happen on home-made domes)????

A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.

Also, after Burning man, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???

I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.

"Miscellaneous"

We sell a white and black (total sun block) shade woven film that is 6' wide $10 per yard and Grip Clips (set of 4 for $10) http://www.shelter-systems.com/accessories.html which allows you to attach poles to the cover and attach the cover to your house. You could then make your own shade.

"Climate"

If the warranty is just less than 2 yrs. What would you say the life execpetancy of one of you domes
Thanks

It depends on the location the elevation and amount of sun. They can last up to 10 years in the shade. and less then 2.5 yearson at 10,000' in Arizona.

"Burning Man" & "Climate"

Hi Nate

i read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burning man--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...

It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.

if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (I've seen that happen on home-made domes)????

A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.

Also, after Burning man, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???

I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.

"General"

Did you receive my online order for a 8 ' a week or two ago?
Thanks
Bill

Yes, Thank you.

You can call 813-457-1153 to find out about the status of your order.

Your order will be filled in the order it was received. Most orders are shipped out within a week. We ship UPS ground. We try to keep all items in stock. If an item is not in stock it may take a week or two weeks to make it, depending on other pending orders. It takes about 3 shipping days for orders in California and 6 shipping days for orders on the East Coast. If you do not receive your purchase within three weeks, please call Redwood Devitt, Production Manager, at shipping and receiving 831-457-1153 so we can track your order for you (leave a message if you do not reach him).

Let us know how your order works for you. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. Please don't hesitate to call us.

If you need to return a dome for repair or a refund, please make sure that it is clean and dry. If need be, hang the dome from its top clip in a room with a high ceiling to completely dry it out. Include a copy of your invoice and ship UPS to 24 Granger Lane, Santa Cruz CA 94060. To receive a full refund, return your dome in its original condition within thirty days of receipt. Special Orders are not returnable; since we do not offer them in our catalog and we would have trouble reselling them.

"General

Hi Guys

Your products look like they will meet my requirements. Since your products
our based on overlapping shingles do you have any suggestions for dealing
with bugs like mosquitoes and black flies. I was thinking of covering the
entire structure with no-see-um screen mesh.

The shingling is under significant stress by the poles which causes the 3" overlap to be pulled bug tight at least for insects the size of mosquitoes and black flies.

"Miscellaneous"

We sell kits for smaller window shades and materials (a white and black (total sun block) shade woven film that is 6' wide $10 per yard) and Grip Clips (set of 4 for $10) http://www.shelter-systems.com/accessories.html which allows you to attach poles to the cover and attach the cover to your house. You could then make your own shade.

Its called the greenhouse effect: the sun shins through the covering and heat up the ground and what ever else is inside it. Then at night the heat is slowly reradiated from the ground into the air of the greenhouse. This is what makes it work at night. You can increase the heat retention by adding jugs of water to your greenhouse.

hello i am wanting to have a greenhouse nothing too fancy but kinda like what
you have to offer....i have one question though...what keeps the plants warm
at night ? do you have to put a heater in there ? i understand during the
day the sun hits the plastic and generates heat then but what about night ??
it still gets down to 40 here in southern indiana where i live....i
appreciate your ideas.
thankyou,

"General"

I would like to know if any of your tensegrity-tents are any in production or are for sale?

Most of our tents are a hybrid of tensegrity and geodesics. They are a type of tensegrity. The poles will not send with out the covering.

"Miscellaneous" "Kayak"

I was wandering how stable the kayaks that you built are? are they
stable enough to go down rivers with?

Yes, it is quite stable; but a mono hull kayak has advantages over an interal fraim kayak like the 4 hr kayak. If you hit a rock hard the kayaks ribs could brake and pin you in so that you would drown. We recomend that you do not go down a rive in a 4 hr kayak.

"Burning Man" & "Climate"

i read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burningman--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...

It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.

if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (i've seen that happen on home-made domes)????

A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.

Also, after Burningman, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???

I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.

"Purchasing"

As I understand the information, your return policy and 1.5 year warranty do not apply to the Bubble Domes. Am I correct?

They are covered by the 1.5 year warranty but are not returnable since they are a special order; except the 10'er.

"Sizes" & "General"

Questions about the Solar Dome:
One of the tables indicate that the height of the opening for the 20' is 7'5" for the open arch situation. Yet the photographs suggest that there is a pole running across the opening at about 5'5".

That measurement is for the"open arch" form of the dome: http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html

What is the highest opening possible with a 20' Solar Dome?

7'5"

How are the net walls intended to be used? They replace two sidewalls in the 14 and 18'ers.

Are they for the open arch?

No.

Do they offer a fairly unobstructed view?

Yes.

How do the net doors differ from the net wall?

The net doors are under the doors. You can up to 4 per dome and 8 on the 30'er.

How much light does the liner block?

40%

Is it possible for one person with patience to setup a 20' dome?

Yes.

"Miscellaneous" & "Uses"

I am looking for a shelter that could house a 22 foot diameter balloon. The
trick is providing an entrance/exit system for the balloon while it is
inflated. If you do not already have a design that could accommodate this,
would such a design be possible with your technol

"Greenhouses"

On the translucent, how long does it last for covering a fraim green house
purpose, and how much per foot or yard? Thank you .

It should last at least 3 years in most conditions. You should shade it with a strip of wood where it contacts a wooden frame. It is $5 yd. It is 6' wide.

"Comments"

The first catalog of yours I still have in my file goes back to 1988 I'm really glad to find the website. Richard

"Miscellaneous"

3/7/00 Hello,

I work for Columbia University, and we are looking to find some sort of portable structure for our softball field to house our scoring and public address table. It needs to have an opening in front to view the game and be able to put an eight foot table with chairs facing the field. We would put it behind the backstop fence.

Looking through your inventory, it looks as if your Crystal cave may work well. I have two questions:
1. Does the Crystal cave let in light?
It is very cold on the field and sunlight is important for the workers. Plus, they will need light to see what they are doing.

Order it with the translucent cover.

2. Can a door be installed in the back side? We would need one side completely open to view the field, and since that would be against a fence, would need to enter from the rear.

There is a door in the back

You should also consider the "Open Arch" http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html forms of out SolarDomes or GroDomes say the 18'ers. Looks more like a softball.

"General"

Can a riser wall built of wood be made for the 30 and 20? How would the dome be attached?
One of the problems here would be to seal the bottom good to keep out the
many centipedes we are blessed with here.

Dear Ed,
Yes, a riser wall built of wood can be made for the 30 and 20. It could be attached with "eye" bolts where each of the poles normally comes down to the ground. There are 20 poles on a 30' and 12 poles on a 20'.

"Miscellaneous"

I would really like to know how to duplicate that tensegrity model pictured on your site (the one made from the blue rods and wire). Last night I made myself thirty identical rods, found some string and tried assemble the thing from the picture. I tried for hours with no success whatsoever.

Use rubber bands first, then put on string. The rubber bands balance each other. If you have trouble, call.

"Climate"

found: via the burningman.com site
imp: i thought the SOLAR tent produces solar energy.does it? If its not, the
name seems like a misnomer to me -- that is the type of tent i'm looking for.

The Yurt Dome covering does catch 60% of the suns energy and it reflects 40%.

"Climate"

Do any of your shelters lend themselves to a full-time living
situation? I have been considering buying a yurt. I also live in Canada
- cold in the winter.

Thank you,
Ron

Yes, but do read our warnings that are in our online manual.

Your yurt dome could be destroyed in extreme weather and your life or safety could be at risk. In heavy snow or wind your yurt could collapse, damaging what you have or compromising your shelter. Do not rely on your yurt dome as your only shelter. Accumulated snow, must be melted or shaken off periodically. Do not set your yurt dome under a tree or branch that might fall on you. Keep all flames and heat away from your yurt dome's covering and objects in your yurt dome.

i would like to know more about permanent structures. I would love to get one of these and just live in the woods. if you have any info on permant stuff please email me

What do you mean by permanent.?We make light weight shelters that last from 2 to 10 years depending on the setting.

"Sizes"

im puzzled why there are not any domes for round swimming pools i have a 21' round and would like to see a 25' dome in production that would leave a way to attache the dome down to the deck. i could see using the 30' on 27' pool. there are many pools in the 15'-to the 24' range. thanks gary.

The reason we up from 20' to 30' has to do with the efficient use of materials. A 25' dome would cost as almost as much as a 30'er to make.

"Climate" & "Miscellaneous"

I will be photographing wildlife in south Texas for six months starting
January 1st. Most of my work will involve spending long hours in
brutally hot photo blinds. Would your Half Dome with its reflective roof when placed over my photo blind keep me any cooler than a typical free standing shelter.

I would not need one as large as the 14 footer. My photo blind is about four feet wide. Would a shelter eight feet wide give me enough air space between me and the shelter to help relieve me of some of the
heat? What is the typical temperature difference between the ambient
air and air under the shelter. Thanks

The 14' half dome of silver and black should help a great deal. It would provide total shade for your smaller unit. Still, you should realize that the air temp. under the half dome will approach the air temp outside. It is the shade that should protect your smaller unit from heating up more than the air temp.

"Sizes"

I am in need of a dome of substantial size. What is
the largest dome your company can build? Is it possible to connect you domes together to gain more height and circumference.

30' in diameter. It is not practical to connect them.

"Uses"

can i HAVE AN OPEN FIRE IN YOUR YURTS?
No. You need to provide a way for the smoke to get out.

Will the heat that rises melt the structure or covering?
It may depending on the size of the fire. We do not recommend an open fire inside.

"Uses"

I'm shopping for a shelter for my yard in which I can build a
sailing catamaran. I need something close to 30'w by 45-48' long. Do
you have anything like that in your line?

The best we could do is our 30' dome. You could have some of you boat sticking out and covered at one end. It would be a wonderful workshop.

"General"

1a. Is it best to get the netting installed all the way around?

It weakens the dome to put netting all the way around. Best is to get four doors with netting.

1. Can I purchase extra material from you and run a wall part way across the center of the dome? I would like to make it two rooms by hanging a partial wall, to still allow ventilation and passage between
the rooms.

Yes you can.

2. Is the floor installed here or at your factory? I want to put the
floor tarp under a plywood floor, for moisture control.

You install the floor.

"Climate"

I read in your question section that over
and over you say not to rely on the structure as a main source of
shelter.

and if you built a roof structure over it to combat the snow issue, do you think that it would work?

That should keep the snow off.[[is this feasible?]]

"Uses"

Would like to cover a 24' round above-ground pool with a translucent roof top mounted on 4"x4" or 4"x6" posts.
Can you make a 25' or 26' translucent roof top ?
Will it be able to handle northern Ohio snow ?
What would the cost be ?

Thank you for your time and help.

Thanks for your interest in our Rooftops. We do make a 25'er: RoofTop 25' (Top of 30'er) $1200 Shipping $110. You would need to melt or shake the snow off.Heating the pool may do this.

"Accessories"

You mention that I can sew wider widths of film. Could I do this on my own sewing machine? If so, what type of thread would I need?

Yes. Use heavy duty cotton covered polyester.

"Grip Clips;

how much of load the heavy-duty grip clip is rated for vs. the general-purpose grip clip (I plan to use it with at most two layers of woven ripstop film). If I use a general-purpose clip and it fails (weather too severe), how would it fail?

The difference is in how much material they grip. The HD grips about twice as much as the GP. So when your tarp is loaded, the HD will be less likely to rip out the tarp. It is the tarp the usually fails not the clip. I would recommend the HD where you can only grip at a few places on a large tarp.

"Sizes"

availability?
which floor is applicable?
is there a net door and a liner available?
since it has only one door, can a side be rolled up? and if so, is there a
net wall available?

The BubbleDomes are special order items and are non refundable; since we get few orders except for the 10'er. It would take about one to two weeks to ship.

You would need to use a 18' floor. The floor on the 18' BubbleDome comes in at the base to about 16'.

"Miscellaneous"

I need a collapsible tube approximately 6-8 feet in diameter made of
some type of tent material. The tube should be 12 feet long. Can you
help?

I thought you were looking for a tent pole, but I see you are looking for a tent tube. We can make our GroRow into a tube. Call and lets talk.

"Miscellaneous"

My primary
concern is the durability of your product. I work in a high performance nylon fabrication
facility and I have not had the best luck with ripstop nylon. Why did you choose this
material instead of a higher performance product such as Kevlar or a course deiner nylon.

The covering we use is not nylon but a woven ripstop film which is very strong. It is a high grade version of the "blue tarps" you see.

I am very interested in the construction of your poles as well. Is the PVC tubing reallystrong enough to last for three years?

Yes.

"Uses"

I am looking for a dome to put over my hot tub. The tub is 5 ft. in diameter and about 3ft. high. Would the 8 ft. gro-dome be a good choice? J.

"Comments"

Yes I think it would work.The best and most affordable dome system I've ever seen. I'm sure I'll be purchasing one in the not so distant future. Warmest regards from beautiful downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts.

"Greenhouses"

I am thinking of putting a greenhouse on a balcony on the second floor of my
home. The balcony is 11'6" x 3' 6". The roof begins 7' 4" from the bottom of
the decking.

What would the weight of the greenhouse be? What would the cost of a
greenhouse this size be? How difficult would it be to assemble 3 stories up?

The best we could fit with you is our SolarShed.

I think the SolarShed might work out perfect. Just a couple of questions:

1) Could I attach 2 sheds together? Since they are 5.5' long, two would
perfectly fit on the balcony.

Yes you can.

2) How is the shed attached to the wall - I want to make sure that no bugs
can get in the shed.

You can use eye bolts, wood slats and or other means. Bugs are hard to keep out of any enclosure.

3) The picture on the web site shows a door inside the shed. This is exactly
what I want to do (the door would be the door to the balcony). But how is
this possible if the shed is only 6' tall?

The door you see is only 5' high.

So I think I have my structure choice - 1/2 of a Crystal Cave 9. Now can I
do that? Next could I lengthen it to 11' long? If that seems like a possible
choice, then all I have to figure out is the covering.

The best we can do is to make you 3/2 of a Crystal Cave because of the connectors. It can also only be extended by 1/2 its length to 13.5'.

"Grip Clips;

I am interested in building approximately a 32, or 40, geodesic dome to
be used for a shop. I will need to have a 10, wide x 10, tall garage
door and 1 personnel door. I have a large supply of lumber. My question
is does your company sell just the hardware for domes?

We do sell Grip Clips and our Covering material which might be of use to you.

If you built a fraim you could then use Grip Clips to hang a cover under it.

"Comments"

What a great website! I have been fascinated with round structures for many years. So far I only have a dome tent, but I will try to order a 20 ft Solar Dome from you this year. Then I can figure ways to get more permanent and costly round living structures in my life if I need them. Did you know that the word 'mortgage' comes from French meaning deathwish? Ciao for now.

"Uses"

As to whether a dome would be suitable as a doctor's office: it would certainly work. We would recommend a liner for winter. The snow would have to be removed--knocked off with a broom or melted with an electric, propane, or wood heater. Our domes have been used therapeutic massage studios.

"Uses"

Tonya Payne from Brisbane, Queensland in Australia and I am
currently trying to track down a tent that would be suitable for the bulk
storage of fertilizer or sulphur. Do you have any models that would be
suitable for this purpose and if so do you have a distributor in Australia?

Tonya,
We believe our shelters would work fine for fertilizer or sulphur storage. We don't believe there would be any chemical reactions between fertilizer chemicals and the dome materials, which are quite inert. The 18, 20' or 30' SolarDome would be suitable.

"Greenhouses"

What is the purpose of a liner in the greenhouses? In an area with some snow, are the liners necessary?

A liner will keep the greenhouse warmer in the winter. Whether a liner is necessary, depends on the particular weather in a particular winter.

"Uses"

Hi I'm a roofing company looking for a dome to place on a roof top so our crew could work throught this winter.

Our largest dome, the 30 foot, is about 11 feet high at the top. You could also use a smaller dome which you moved around. You would have to make sure you sequred the dome so that it did not move in the wind

Another possibility is using tarps, together with the our Grip Clip tarp fasteners, to cover the roof when you are not working on it.

"Miscellaneous"

Do you have any suggestions on building a small dome as a science project?
Do you have any such small model kits? Kindly let me know.

"Sizes"

I'm looking to put together a gathering of 30 - 40 people. What type and
size dome would you recommend that would comfortably hold that amount of
people? And does the floor rip easy -- like if people were dancing and walking around on it?

I would recommend the 30' Yurt Dome. The floor does not rip easy and would handle dancing and walking fine

"Sizes"

I'll be needing shelter during the summer in the Central Cascades in
Washington. The only catch is that I'll have to hike it in, about 4
miles or so. What's the largest tent that a person can reasonably carry? (I have some strong people in my party, but I don't want to cripple them either.

The 18'er comes in two 30 lb. packages.

"Miscellaneous"

Has anyone ever investigated the dynamics
of building a central fire tipi style in a dome shape with central vent hole?

We have tried that. It did not work well. You need a tall, chimney-like structure to create an up-draft to vent the smoke adequately.

"Miscellaneous" "Kayak"

Reading about your woven rip-stop material I was interested in finding out more about it. I am planning a project for a "Skin-on-frame" Kayak, and I have been trying to determine what material to use as the skin.

I would be interested in finding out more about this material, whether you retail it by the yard or could direct me to a manufacturer or retailer, so that I could obtain spec.s or a sample or both.

Jon,I don't think this material would work too well for a kayak because, although the material is extremely rip-stop, it can be punctured or abraded. Therefore, you couldn't drag the kayak across rocks.

I made a kayak, using a regular blue tarp, green willow shoots and our Grip Clip tarp fasteners, in four hours. You might want to check out our website with many photos of the kayak construction at www.gripclip.com/kayakassem.html.

"Sizes"

We would like to put a year around Yurk (18' or 20') on our property near Bowman Lake (CA) at 6000' elevation. Will it handle the snow load? What do you recommend?

The 18' dome is stronger than the 20'. Their poles are the same diameter, but the 18' dome's poles are shorter and therefore the smaller dome is stronger.

"Uses"

I intend to set up a "web lounge" with three computers in Virginia. The desk are plain, a top and four legs. I want the dome to be white. I want it so that you can stand up without hitting your head, with one window near the entrance. I must use a tent, so please do not waste my time telling me it is impractical, give me the specs.I intend to wrap the computers and hardware with my own materials during storms and intend to have a portable heater and dehumidifier. Please suggest an appropriate size for this mini weblounge. Also, tell me the cost and figure in the shipping, I want to ship the tent to:

Please send me your specs for your suggestion so that when I make the purchase I can tell you what I want. [in Virgina]

I suggest the 18 foot Yurt Dome. It is 9' tall. Shipping $40.

"Climate"

regarding your 30' dome yurt, have you done any wind/storm testing? what
are the specs. I live in the Colorado Rockies and am looking at yurts for
my mountain properity. We get 60+ mile an hour winds in the late fall, and
snow to 4-6 feet in the highlands. Due to dome construction I'm sure your
yurts are quite sturdy, but would they withstand an entire Colorado winter
without repair, etc. Also, how is the best way to heat your yurt? I didnt
see any plans for a out vent for a stove? many thanks

I do not recomend our 30'er for you; 60+ winds are too much.

"Uses"

Hi -- I'm looking to have a sweat house ceremony in the next few weeks
and was wondering if you thought one of your yurts might be an option
for that kind of an endeavor and if so which one. Does the material
stand up to high internal temperatures (130-140 degrees F) and high
humidity?

Yes.

Does the structure stand on its own without the material if
we opted to use another material for the sweat lodge ceremony,

No.

then
strip the material off the structure and put up the original material
and then use the yurt as it was originally designed.

"Uses"

The 14 footer does not seem to have much head clearance in the picture on the website, although it states that it is 7 feet tall. How much walk-around space would there be for a 5 foot ten inch man?

It is 7' tall in the center. You would not have much walk around room; perhaps an 8' circle. How about the 18'er?

Keeping it small in Montana might be
a good idea. I would love the room of the 20, but fear that it could not be
heated well.
Glenn

"Climate"

Ihave a 20' Solar Dome. I am going to erect it on a raised, oversized platform. I am
in Ecuador, just east of the Andes. In this region, we get alot of brief, intermittent
rains and quite a bit of heat in between. I am building the platform in a very shady
grove and am building a raised, inner floor for it. It was suggested in your questions
and answers that a plastic vapor barrier be affixed to the entire underside of the platform. I'm not seeing this as making sense because of the height of the platform
(five feet) and the raised, inner floor. All the local houses are of this "platform style"
and dry quite readily due to the height of the platform.

It would only make sense if you wished to exclude the moisture in the air. It sounds like your climate is dry enough so you do not need the vapor barrier.

A friend of mine used the same type of dome in the mountains of souther Ecuador
and had alot of problems with rain blowing in through the closed doors. In our area
there is not so much wind, but I will be wanting to keep all four doors open even
when it rains. What do you suggest in this case, to keep the rain out.

I suggest you attach a small tarp porch over the door openings with small tarps (Grip Clips may help you do this). Attach the tarp to the clips above the door and to the pole running horizontally to each side of the door. The tarp should be wide enough to protect the open door from rain. Tie the other corners of the tarp out and away from the dome to create a open porch. You could alternatively use our porches.

"Uses"

Dear Sir,
I hope this email finds you well. I live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, on
the island of St Thomas. I have designed and built a high performance 18"
Newtonian telescope which I use to do public and private Astronomy
Presentations. I am very interested in your 18' Star Bubble. Please email me a
photograph of this particular unit, so that I can see if it will work for my
purposes. I am particularly concerned about how I can rotate the dome (Star
Bubble) in order to access different areas of the sky. Please send me any
information you have that might be useful in this regard, as well as any other
information you may have. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Kary Williams President Star Charters Astronomy Adventures

Here is an image of a 20' Bubble. The 18' Star Bubble is the very similar but is make of our light blocking covering. The structure is free standing and can be attached to coster wheels.

"Uses"

I live in an old stone house on 5 acres in the middle of 500 acres of brush
and citrus groves in north San Diego County. I'm thinking that building a
dome would be easier than fixing the old house. I have perused with great
interest the sturctures on your web site, wondering if I should put up a
20' solar dome this summer to see how I like it, then building a somewhat
larger permanent dome.

I visited a smallish dome in an avocado grove about 25 years ago. It was
very open with lots of skylights and was lovely. It seems that people try
to make these domes into regular houses with corners, sheetrock interiors,
and small room spaces. I would like the interior very open with lots of
skylights. My place is on a hill with lovely views. I'm not much worried
about building codes or what the neighbors would think, because it's VERY
isolated here.

So my questions is this: If you were going to put up a permanent residence
dome, who would you hire or what company would you use? Or do you do this?
My other question is esthetic: Do you think living for the summer in a dome
covered mostly with vinyl will be a good test?

Just do it yourself with the help of a couple of friends. Our domes are not made of vinyl; but yes a great idea.

"Greenhouses"

interested in buying one of your
greenhouses. It is the best deal and quality I have seen since I began my
search for a greenhouse. My specifications are that I live in a rented
space therefore it can not be permanent and I think is zone 8 here in
Seattle. My deck is around 400 square feet and I am interested in using
1/2 or 1/4 of it for a greenhouse. I have many tropicals and frost tender
plants inside that I would like to grow in the greenhouse along with
spring germination of seeds. I guess my questions would be how low of
temperature does the greenhouse get at nig

It can approach the outside temp if there is no sun for days.

should I use an
alternative heat source,

Yes if you need to. The only way to tell is watch it or use a thermostat.

and how small is it to store in the summer when I
want all my plants outside???

They all pack up small. Two duffel bag size.

I am interested in the GroRow, GroDome and
lighthouse. I also rent a 200 square foot garden plot in another location
and the GroRow would work there also. What would be the benefients of having the Grodome or lighthouse instead??

You can not grow in the lighthouse.

"Uses"

I would like to build a 20 foot round straw bale house on some desert property that I have and have been thinking about a custom-domed roof for it.
I need ultraviolet , and water-proof protection for long-term use. Do you have these materials, and can you give me an estimate on price? I would also like to know if you have any ideas for attaching the roof to the straw bales. Sincerely,
Dale Barger ,Savannah, GA

Sounds like a great idea. Our 30'roof shell would work, being about 23' in diam. Our covering will last about 3+ years or much more if you shade it. You could attach it by running a cord from the clips (there are 20 base clips in the 30'er) down the bales and staking it to the ground or the bales. .

"Sizes"

Could you tell me about Yurt Dome 11 and 14? what size are the doors on the 11

5'wide and 4.5' high

and the 14?

4.2' by 4.2'

"Greenhouses"

I like the shape of your crystal cave, and greenhouse,
Can these be made with 50% shade cloth instead of material or plastic?

No, the structures need the stability of the woven film for strength. However you can cut many large holes in the woven film between the poles and then cover the structure with the shade cloth.

My climate is not conducive to plastic, and I need the ventilation that the
shade cloth allows.
I would be interested in talking with you, I am looking for a product that I
can adapt to a traveling Butterfly exhibit. This would need to be portable,
and easy up and down.
Something that will withstand putting up and down on a weekly basis.
I would also need to be sure that it can be closed on all sides to prevent
the Butterflies from escape!

We could make you a special structure where in the shade cloth was sewn into the panels.

I need the rectangular style, and I would like to be able to make it longer
than the styles you show. I would like to go up to 30 feet long, and still
keep the height around 7 feet! Is it possible to have something such as
this?

We could go the length 33' and the height 7' but the width would have to be 9' or 11'.

We also have a 30' dome.

"Purchasing"

Shipping to Greece is about $150 for the 18' domes.

"Greenhouses"

I would like to know if you have shelving that fits into your greenhouses to hold flats, or if you have designs for them.

"Uses"

I'm looking to enclose a small hot tub. I live in NJ so it gets cold. I'd like to conserve electricity by keeping the air warm. Also, I'd like to have enough room for people to party inside by the tub. The tub itself is about 5 ft. in diameter. I have plenty of room in the yard. I'd like to put lots of plants around, also...
Thanks, Jim Cheadle

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